FG approves $1bn to tackle maternal, child deaths

Prof Ali Pate, on Monday 10 March, 2025, announced that the Federal Government has approved a $1bn facility support to the 36 states of the federation.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this during the flag-off of the Co-Creation Workshop on the Ogun State Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative, held at Abeokuta.

This support is aim to tackle the challenge of child-maternal mortality in the country.

Pate stated that the Federal Government is also upgrading 774 healthcare facilities nationwide to serve as referral centres for emergency obstetric care.

He explained that, the recently approved $1bn facility aims to incentivise states to achieve significant reductions in child and maternal mortality.

“As part of our commitment to improving child and maternal health, the coordination office has secured resources from HOPE, a $1bn facility recently approved for all 36 states to drive results.

“Whether it is improving governance, increasing human resources in primary healthcare, or enhancing antenatal care coverage, states will receive incentive payments based on their achievements. This is the structure of the incentive scheme,” he added.

Pate further emphasised the importance of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative, launched nationally last week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He described that improving the well-being of mothers and newborns, is crucial for Nigeria’s present and future development.

The minister called for strong collaboration between the federal and state governments to effectively tackle child and maternal mortality.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s diversity, Pate noted that solutions designed in Abuja might not fully address the problem at the state level.

The minister, urged the state governments to consider their unique circumstances when implementing programmes to reduce child and maternal mortality.

He further highlighted the importance of addressing factors like education, nutrition, and transport as it is crucial to reducing maternal and child mortality rates.

The administration reaffirmed its commitment to maternal and child health by increasing the health sector’s budget allocation to 13%.

This increment is to hire over 800 healthcare professionals and providing 80 tricycles for emergency transport services in rural areas.

As Ogun State begins implementing MAMII, Abiodun called on all stakeholders to leverage innovation, collaboration, and data-driven strategies to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, described the MAMII Co-Creation Workshop as a unique opportunity to engage and align efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths with evidence-based solutions.

Coker urged participants to think innovatively and commit to solutions that save mother’s and new-born’s lives.

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