The Nigerian Government has approved a $1 billion fund to help all 36 states tackle the issue of child and maternal deaths across the country, according to Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate.
Speaking at the launch of the Co-Creation Workshop on the Ogun State Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative in Abeokuta, Pate revealed that 774 healthcare centres nationwide are being upgraded to provide free emergency care for obstetric complications.
He explained that the newly approved funding is designed to motivate states to achieve real progress in reducing maternal and child deaths.
“As part of our commitment to improving child and maternal health, the coordination office has secured resources from HOPE, a $1 billion facility recently approved for all 36 states to drive results,” Pate said.
He added that the initiative would focus on key areas such as governance, staffing in primary healthcare facilities, and better antenatal care. States will receive financial incentives based on the progress they make.
Pate described the nationwide maternal and newborn mortality reduction programme, launched last week by President Bola Tinubu, as a critical step for the country’s future, stressing the need for strong cooperation between federal and state governments to address these health challenges.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn health. He highlighted that maternal deaths in Ijebu North East and Ado-Odo/Ota were above the national average of 194 deaths per 100,000 births.
Abiodun said his administration had increased the health budget to 13 per cent, recruited over 800 healthcare workers, and introduced 80 tricycles for emergency transport in rural areas.
The Governor stressed that using innovative, collaborative, and data-driven approaches would help drastically reduce maternal and child deaths in the state.
