Progress and Promise to Address Malnutrition: Large-Scale Food Fortification and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation

This WHA79 official side event will convene Ministers of Health, technical experts, and global partners to catalyze political commitment to scaling two critical interventions to address micronutrient deficiencies: large-scale food fortification (LSFF) and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS). LSFF is the addition of essential vitamins and minerals to widely consumed staple foods, but most existing programs need to be strengthened to maximize their impact. MMS offers 15 essential micronutrients, including iron and folic acid, to provide additional supplementation to pregnant women and improve maternal nutrition, with an increasing number of countries integrating MMS into antenatal care. Together, these interventions provide a complementary approach spanning health services and food systems to improve maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes. Through two panel discussions, Ministers will be recognized for their leadership and commitment to these proven, scalable, and cost-effective interventions.