In a robust effort to address Nigeria’s alarming maternal and neonatal death rates, Nasarawa State has joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Health’s SWAP Coordination Office to launch the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) workshop in Lafia.
The initiative, announced in a statement by the Society for Family Health (SFH) on Saturday, aims to reduce maternal mortality by 30% and boost health facility usage and skilled birth attendance by 60% within three years across 172 high-burden local government areas, including all 13 in Nasarawa, with a particular focus on Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs.
Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate stands at 512 per 100,000 live births, with neonatal deaths at 41 per 1,000 births—among the highest in the world. The MAMII programme targets areas where maternal deaths exceed 1,000 per 100,000 live births, deploying evidence-based measures to address these grim statistics.
The Lafia workshop saw participation from key stakeholders, including Nasarawa’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, and representatives from NASHIA, NAPHDA, NHIA, and the Hospital Management Board, with SFH taking a leading role. Field visits to five communities in Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs revealed critical challenges, including limited access to skilled birth attendants and inadequate health facilities.
“Visiting these communities gave us a stark view of the barriers to quality maternal and newborn care,” said Dayyabu Yusuf, SFH’s Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Governmental Engagement. “Their input is vital for crafting effective, locally tailored solutions.”
The workshop resulted in the establishment of a MAMII Task Force, with SFH securing three seats to guide the initiative. Agreed actions include distributing mosquito nets and delivery kits and developing a budgeted plan suited to local needs. Emmanuel Odiniya, SFH’s IntegratE Project State Technical Adviser, reaffirmed their commitment: “We are fully dedicated to supporting Nasarawa’s mission to save mothers and newborns through targeted interventions.”
Dr. Gaza Gwamna described the initiative as transformative, stating, “This is a defining moment for Nasarawa. With partners like SFH and community-driven solutions, we are poised to revolutionise maternal and neonatal health outcomes.”
