Free prenatal vitamins are now available for expectant mothers in Mississippi.
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced Thursday that it is doling out a six-month supply of vitamins to women who have tested positive for pregnancy free of charge, courtesy of grant funding. The vitamins will be available at county health departments offering nursing services.
“One of the most proactive steps an expectant mother can take to ensure she delivers a healthy baby is to take prenatal vitamins,” a statement from the MSDH reads. “By distributing prenatal vitamins, MSDH not only addresses immediate nutritional needs of expectant mothers and their unborn children but also helps improve access to prenatal care by creating additional opportunities for patient engagement, education, and referral to maternal and infant services.”
Officials are hopeful that this will help Mississippi take a step in curbing its alarming infant and maternal mortality rates, where the state ranks in the cellar, according to the latest public health report card. In August, the MSDH declared a public health emergency over rising infant mortality rates.
The state health department launched the “Saving the Smallest” campaign in January to spread public awareness of the issues driving preterm births in Mississippi and encourage the adoption of safe prenatal and infant-care behaviors.