The MoMS Study enters its formative stages

The Mothers Micronutrient Supplement for Pregnancy and Lactation Study (MoMS) has entered its formative stages, with Bungoma County chosen as the main research location for this groundbreaking project aimed at enhancing mother and child health outcomes.

The study team led by the Principal Investigator, KEMRI’s Dr. Zipporah Bukania, visited the proposed study sites in the County, including, Kimilili Sirisia, and Bumula Sub-County hospitals, to determine whether the study sites were appropriate. In addition, provided a great platform for the research team to interact with the hospitals’ leadership who are important health stakeholders in the implementation of the study.

As part of the visit, the study team held discussions with the County Health Management Team, led by County Chief Officer of Health Dr. Magrina Mayama, where they were briefed on the current birth and child mortality in Bungoma County, and the major issues affecting pregnant and lactating women such as anemia. In addition, the teams explored ways to enhance collaboration for its successful implementation for better health outcomes for both mother and child.

In her remarks, Dr. Bukania stated, "This study marks an important step in strengthening maternal and child health through improved multiple micronutrient supplementation. By working closely with local health teams and international experts, we aim to generate evidence that will inform policies and interventions in maternal and childcare. The study will assess and monitor nutritional, developmental and cognitive, outcomes among pregnant and lactating mothers and their newborns."

On her part, Dr. Mayama, noted "Having this study in Bungoma is a great opportunity for our mothers and children. Nutrition plays a vital role in maternal and child health, and we are excited to be part of a project that could lead to real, lasting improvements for Mothers and Children in Kenya.”

The study brings together leading experts in micronutrient research, including Prof. Tor Strand from the University of Bergen and Post doc, Dr. Beate Slovik from Innlandet Hospital Trust, both based in Norway, alongside Prof. Benedikte Grenov from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Additionally, the team was joined by Dr. Mads Friil Hjorth, a representative of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the key funding partners. The project is jointly funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Gates Foundation.

Before embarking on the site visits, the research team paid a courtesy call to Ag. Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, who expressed his strong support for the initiative. He highlighted the importance of the study in advancing maternal and child health and emphasized its potential to enhance micronutrient research capacity in Kenya.

"Not many partners invest in nutrition studies, and we are grateful that you chose to collaborate with us on this initiative. I am especially excited about what this study means for the Maternal and child health landscape in the county," he stated. Prof. Songok, further highlighting the study’s broader significance, "I am also excited about what this means for the Institute. This study serves as a steppingstone toward realizing our vision of establishing a Centre of Excellence in Nutrition in KEMRI"

Prof. Benedikte Grenov who shared in his enthusiasm stated, “We look forward to carrying this study that is of great importance alongside your teams.”

The team also held meetings with the Scientific Ethics Review Committee (SERU), to understand how the Scientific and Ethics processes are managed; the Department of Epidemiology and Statistics (DESI) to learn more on matters data, which included discussions on data handling and sharing and finally discussed with ICT on the capacity for cloud data storage, access and control.

Notably, MoMS will be the pioneering trial that helps shape the proposed clinical trials curriculum at the KEMRI Graduate School (KGS). To ensure a well-grounded course the team will be working closely with the Lead Clinical Trials Training Officer at KGS, Dr. Hellen Barsosio. This program is highly critical to the Institute since it will not only improve the skills of researchers and clinicians in conducting quality clinical trials but also spark more interest in the space of clinical trials, ultimately contributing to better healthcare outcomes.

The KEMRI Team included, Ms. Vyola Chuchu, Mr. Moses Mwangi, Mr. Alfred Muya, and Ms. Lorna Makhandia. Accompanying the team were Bungoma County Health officials including, Mr. David Wangila, County M and E Officer, Mr. Simon Mukoko, County Partnerships and Liaison Officer and Ms. Joan Wasike, County Head of Laboratories.

Source: KEMRI Bulletin Issue 131 (11 March 2025).