The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has emphasised the need for scaling up innovations to reduce maternal and child mortality in Nigeria and globally.
Speaking at a high-level panel on “Innovate to Scale: Bending the Curve on Health MNCH SDG’s” at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Salako highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to address the challenge.
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Salako also announced that Nigeria has launched the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) in 2024, a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach aimed at strengthening the health system from the ground up.
“MAMII represents a targeted, data-driven response that focuses on the 172 local government areas that our data shows contribute approximately 55% of maternal deaths in our country,” he said.
“The initiative leverages digital technologies, task-shifting strategies, and multi-sectoral partnerships to increase facility utilisation for maternal and newborn health services, raise the proportion of births attended by skilled providers, and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates.”
Salako highlighted some of the innovative solutions being implemented in Nigeria, including leveraging formal and commercial transport systems to support timely emergency referrals, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
“Pregnant women in the communities are listed and linked to facilities through community structures. Facility delivery is incentivised through the provision of kits with essential delivery and newborn commodities.”
The Minister also mentioned the Safer Births Initiative, a collaboration that integrates proven clinical tools and life-saving technologies to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality.
“By scaling the use of devices like the Moyo fetal heart rate monitor and the NeoBeat newborn resuscitation equipment and coupling these with skills-based simulation training for frontline health workers, we have started small to learn and then implement at scale afterwards,” he said.
Salako emphasised the importance of a community-driven approach to reducing maternal and child mortality. “Innovative health systems must be rooted in community realities,” he said.
“That’s why we are prioritising efforts to address cultural and social barriers to care by developing culturally sensitive interventions, training and engaging traditional birth attendants, and collaborating with religious and community leaders.”
The Minister expressed Nigeria’s commitment to scaling up innovations to reduce maternal and child mortality. “Our goal is not just to innovate but to institutionalise what works, scale it sustainably, and ensure it reaches those who need it most,” he said.
Salako reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to shared learning and global solidarity. “We stand ready to work with partners to co-create, scale, and sustain innovations that put women, newborns, and children at the centre of health systems transformation,” he said.
“Let us change the current narrative; let us bend the curve for every mother, every newborn, and every child,” he added.
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