In line with the implementation of national strategic directives in maternal and child health, and in partnership with the National Initiative for Human Development, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection is launching a national campaign to promote the health and nutrition of pregnant and nursing women. This campaign will run from April 6 to May 6, 2026, under the slogan: “Optimal Nutrition for Pregnant and Nursing Women: An Investment in the Health of Future Generations.”
This campaign aims to instill positive health and nutritional behaviors among women of childbearing age, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as this period is crucial for the physical and cognitive development of the child and ensuring the mother’s health. It contributes to reducing health disparities and improving maternal and child health indicators at the national level.
This initiative is based on national data highlighting clear health challenges, most notably the high prevalence of anemia among pregnant women, limited rates of prenatal and postnatal care, and ongoing regional disparities in access to health services.
The campaign focuses on promoting four priority behaviors: early and regular prenatal care through at least four health visits, benefiting from nutritional supplements according to the national schedule for micronutrients supply, adopting a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and ensuring regular health follow-up for the mother and newborn postpartum.
This initiative also aligns with the implementation of the national strategy for communication for social and behavioral change, which aims to establish positive health and nutritional practices during the first thousand days of a child’s life, including encouraging the nutrition of pregnant and nursing women.
An integrated communication plan has been developed, relying on diverse intervention channels. This includes enhancing communication within health institutions, producing awareness content appropriate to local contexts, mobilizing community mediators, religious leaders, and female religious guides, as well as launching media campaigns across various platforms to improve access to health information and services and encourage the adoption of healthy practices.
This approach takes into account the multiple determinants of health behavior, whether related to knowledge, family and social environment influences, or geographic access to health services, through targeted interventions that necessitate the collective efforts of all stakeholders to overcome these barriers and enhance women’s access to healthcare throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
Through this campaign, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reaffirms its commitment to continue implementing integrated national programs aimed at enhancing the health and nutrition of mothers, ensuring a healthy start for children from the earliest stages of life, which supports achieving national strategic objectives in health and nutrition and contributes to human development in the Kingdom.
