AHBN, PMNCH sign pact to advance maternal health

The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has signed a partnership agreement with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to implement the 2025 Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) in Nigeria.

The partnership aims to accelerate the reduction of maternal, newborn, and child mortality, protect and promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and galvanize greater domestic resources for women’s, children’s, and adolescent health (WCAH) issues.

The AHBN Coordinator, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, noted the appreciation of the previous coordinating role of AHBN in the development of the CAAP in Nigeria.

He said, “As we move into implementation, we envision the CAAP serving as a unifying framework that strengthens collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and constituencies including youth, civil society, media, people with lived experiences, parliamentarians, and policymakers, accelerating progress on maternal, newborn, and child health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and adolescent well-being.”

“Through this partnership, AHBN will strengthen a multi-constituency coalition for joint advocacy and accountability actions on WCAH issues.”

“The partnership will also advance efforts to accelerate progress on the unfinished agenda to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity.”

“Furthermore, AHBN will advocate for sustained, increased, and effective use of financing, including through domestic resources, for WCAH.

“Ultimately, the partnership aims to build resilient advocacy ecosystems to ensure that Nigeria’s health reforms deliver tangible results to improve the health of the most vulnerable women, children, and adolescents.”

“The CAAP initiative is underway in 10 prioritized countries, including Nigeria, and aims to add value to the efforts of partners through improved evidence, more meaningful engagement of underrepresented constituencies, and enhanced visibility of and action for national advocacy and accountability efforts for WCAH commitments.”

Dr. Garba emphasized that the partnership will help ensure equitable health outcomes, sustainable financing, and stronger accountability mechanisms across the board.

“This will help ensure that Nigeria’s health reforms deliver tangible results to improve the health of the most vulnerable women, children, and adolescents,” he said.