Federal Government has commenced the distribution of maternal and neonatal health commodities worth about N2.9 billion to states across the federation.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of women and children.
According to him, the commodities to be distributed free of charge nationwide have been allocated with 60 per cent going to the North-West and 34 per cent to the North-East, based on identified needs.
“This intervention by the Federal Government is designed to fill critical gaps and demonstrate how effective solutions can be, with the hope that states will build on it. While our mandate covers the entire country, we are beginning with ten states, targeting 80 local government areas with the highest burden of preventable maternal deaths,” he said.
“Too many women die needlessly from preventable causes. Even one avoidable death is too many. That is why we are working hard, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to drastically reduce maternal and neonatal mortality across the country,” Dr Aina emphasised.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII), Dr Dayo Adeyanju, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian government in ensuring improved healthcare service delivery. He noted that maternal health data will now be tracked annually to measure progress and refine strategies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr Mary Branton, alongside key development partners including the Gates Foundation and UNICEF, commended the Federal Government’s commitment and pledged continued support towards advancing maternal health in Nigeria.
RN
