The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a nationwide distribution of free maternal and neonatal health (MNH) supplies valued at ₦2.9 billion, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes for women and newborns.
At the official flag-off in Abuja, Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), emphasized that the initiative targets preventable maternal and child deaths. The program is part of the government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare access for women and children across the country.
The distribution focuses on ten states with the highest maternal mortality rates, covering 80 local government areas. Approximately 60% of the supplies will go to the Northwest, 34% to the Northeast, and the remainder to North Central and Southeast regions. Items include delivery kits, antenatal medications, nutritional supplements, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, family planning materials, and essential medicines for maternal and neonatal care.
Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, National Coordinator of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII), noted that the program strengthens primary healthcare facilities, improves service delivery, upgrades infrastructure, and provides training for health workers. He encouraged state governments to integrate MNH programs into their annual plans for long-term sustainability.
Dr. Mary Brantwo, WHO representative in Nigeria, reaffirmed global support for maternal health, adding that progress will now be tracked annually using health data. Representatives from UNICEF, UNFPA, and the Gates Foundation also pledged continued collaboration and support.
According to WHO statistics, Nigeria accounts for about 20% of global maternal deaths, with maternal mortality ratios exceeding 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births in some areas. High mortality rates are particularly noted in rural parts of the Northwest and Northeast, where access to skilled health workers and facilities remains limited.
Even with these challenges, the government’s ₦2.9 billion initiative aims to provide essential commodities free of charge, bridging critical healthcare gaps and reducing preventable deaths among mothers and newborns nationwide.
Read more: FG begins nationwide distribution of N2.9 billion maternal and neonatal health commodities