War Against Maternal Mortality In Nigeria: FG Approves N25bn For 8,800 Facilities

• There is a high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

• Since the inception of the Tinubu administration, the health ministry has taken intentional steps to fix the issue.

• The latest move is providing funding to nearly 9,000 health facilities across Nigeria to address maternal mortality.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced N25 billion funding for 8,800 health facilities across the country to address the issue of maternal mortality.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the development at a press briefing to commemorate the 2024 Safe Motherhood Day, with the theme “Investing in Maternal Health for a Sustainable Future” held in Abuja recently.

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The approval of the N25 billion fund, which came under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to be implemented through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) gateways, aims to enhance 8,800 BHCPF facilities, with ambitions to expand them to over 17,000 in the next three years.

According to a statement issued by the health ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Patricia Deworitshe, on Monday, Pate said the move assured the readiness of the Federal Government to reduce maternal mortality and newborn child deaths in Nigeria.

The minister pointed out that safe motherhood can be achieved when a pregnant woman receives all pillars of care during and after pregnancy, such as antenatal care, skilled and facility-based delivery, quality services as well as postnatal care, family planning, postpartum family planning and post-abortion family planning.

He called on all stakeholders, development partners, religious and traditional leaders, and the media to educate the general public to achieve the desired objective.

“We have to ensure that all women in Nigeria have access to quality maternal care, irrespective of where you come from, whether they’re from rural areas or not, whether they’re educated or not so that we don’t leave any woman behind,” he stressed.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, identified the three worst maternal health complications which contribute to 55 per cent of cases of maternal mortality in Nigeria as postpartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia and unsafe abortion, urging that it requires a concerted and collective effort by the pregnant woman herself, her immediate and extended family members, community and health personnel at primary, secondary and tertiary levels to ensure the safety of a pregnant woman and her child during pregnancy, delivery and after delivery.

Daju said that to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the health ministry has commenced the 4-point Agenda of the health sector, noting that safe motherhood is a key priority of the health agenda, as over 120,000 front line health workers’ capacities will be built and additional primary Health care will receive funds under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to cater for mothers and Children.

To discharge its mandate and effort to improve maternal health, the Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry in collaboration with partners reviewed the safe motherhood documents in line with best practices to address the high prevalence of postpartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia and unsafe abortion and to guide states in the implementation, thereby issues affecting maternal health in Nigeria will be addressed.

Daju, expressed her appreciation for the commitment of the stakeholders in improving the quality of lives of mothers and children, adding that their support and effort in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria should not be overemphasized.

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“Together, we can build a country where every mother has the opportunity to experience the joy of childbirth in safety and dignity. We can create a future where every mother and newborn receive the care and support needed to thrive,” she stated.

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