LIVE UPDATES
In an effort to decrease maternal mortality rates, the federal government has initiated the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII), a nationwide campaign aimed at lowering deaths among mothers and newborns.
The initiative was officially launched at Gwarinpa General Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday.
The coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Pate, outlined several aspects of the initiative, which include free health insurance for pregnant women, access to complimentary cesarean sections, mama delivery kits, and transportation vouchers.
Mr. Pate, represented by Dayo Adeyanju, the national coordinator of MAMII at the ministry of health, emphasized that this initiative directly responds to President Bola Tinubu’s directive that “No woman should die as a result of childbirth.”
Pate characterized the program as a comprehensive effort to ensure that every pregnancy leads to a healthy baby and a healthy mother.
According to him, MAMII is a practical response to Nigeria’s high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality, with the country accounting for about 20 percent of global maternal deaths. “MAMII is not just a slogan,” he stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to urgent action.
“The initiative goes beyond providing services by incorporating tracking mechanisms to monitor the progress of each pregnant woman. Any maternal death will be thoroughly examined to identify and address the cause, whether it arises from delays in transportation, poor facility conditions, or community-level obstacles,” he said.
Pate also conveyed that the government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with 66 teaching hospitals across the country to provide free cesarean sections.
“Plans are in place to extend this service to general hospitals, which will aid in decentralizing access and alleviate the pressure on tertiary care facilities.”
The WHO country representative to Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, praised the initiative, calling it a crucial step toward achieving “healthy beginnings and hopeful futures” for mothers and children in Nigeria.
He stressed that initiatives like MAMII instill hope that every child will be born healthy and have the chance to grow, thrive, and succeed. Mr. Mulombo also committed to overseeing the implementation of the program, particularly concerning the free health insurance announced by Adedolapo Fasawe, the FCT mandate secretary for health services and environment.
Fasawe underscored the vital importance of maternal and child health in Nigeria’s development. She noted that globally, around 397 women die for every 100,000 births, with 70 percent of these fatalities occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, where Nigeria unfortunately leads the statistic.
Fasawe reassured the public that the Renewed Hope Initiative, spearheaded by Mr. Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu, is aimed at reversing this trend.
She further guaranteed that every pregnant woman in the FCT is entitled to free health insurance, regardless of whether they give birth vaginally or through cesarean section.
She encouraged pregnant women to collaborate with the government by attending antenatal appointments, opting for safe, facility-based deliveries, and completing postnatal care, including vaccinations for their newborns.
