Calls for Better Investment to Cut Maternal and Newborn Deaths

Stakeholders are urging stronger investment, better healthcare, and reliable local funding to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Gates Foundation, and the National Assembly made this call during the launch of the Incentives to Increase Maternal and Newborn Care Services Utilisation (INSEMN) initiative at the State House in Abuja on Monday.

This call comes as Nigeria still faces a high rate of maternal and newborn deaths. Evidence shows that financial incentives work best when they are paired with skilled health workers, functional facilities, reliable supplies, and good referral systems.

The INSEMN initiative aims to encourage pregnant women to access antenatal, skilled delivery, and postnatal services through incentives like Mama Kits, bags, and essential items for newborns.

Pavel Ursu, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, said these incentives could motivate families to seek crucial maternal and newborn services. He stressed that more visits to health facilities must come with quality care.

Mr Ursu said women should find safe, respectful, and timely services when they reach health centres. They need support from trained health workers, essential medicines, and functional referral systems.

He mentioned that primary healthcare is vital to this initiative because it brings lifesaving services closer to families and builds trust within communities.

According to him, strong primary healthcare is the bedrock for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and long-lasting improvements in maternal and newborn health.

Mr Ursu called on stakeholders to ensure that no woman is left behind, especially those in rural areas, young girls, women in poverty, and families in underserved regions.

He pointed out that national progress must reach every state, local government area, and community.

He also suggested a review of maternal and perinatal deaths, urging that lessons learned from these reviews should be acted upon quickly.

He emphasized the need for state and local ownership and sustainable local financing, saying that real progress must be based in Nigerian institutions, ownership, and accountability.

He praised Nigerian health workers for their dedication, calling their service heroic and asking for greater investment and support for the workforce.

Uche Amaonwu, the Nigeria Country Director at the Gates Foundation, said the main measure of success for this initiative should be how many mothers and babies survive and how many deaths from preventable causes are avoided.

Mr Amaonwu said the initiative is crucial because it will encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal care, deliver safely with skilled birth attendants, and get the care they and their newborns need.

He added that the Mama Kits and newborn items introduced under this initiative will help encourage women to visit health facilities and access important services.

He stated that improving maternal and newborn health is central to the Gates Foundation’s mission, highlighting that one of their goals is to ensure that no mother or child dies from preventable causes.

He promised that the foundation will continue working with the Nigerian government and other partners to reach this goal.

On the topic of funding, Ipalibo Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), said that reliable local financing is vital for strengthening primary healthcare and improving health results.

Ms Banigo explained that the National Health Insurance Act has set up a Vulnerable Group Fund to provide health insurance for children under five, pregnant women, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and retirees.

She mentioned that budget provisions have been made for this fund in 2023 and 2024, calling it a significant step toward expanding financial support for vulnerable Nigerians.

The senator also highlighted that members of the 10th National Assembly have pursued measures to improve sustainable local health financing. This includes a proposal to double the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation from one percent to two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

She said this increased funding will boost financing for primary healthcare, disease control, health insurance, and emergency health services.

She also talked about efforts to amend legislation related to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and the Customs and Excise framework to raise resources for the screening, treatment, and prevention of non-communicable diseases.

She emphasized that for health financing to yield real results, funds must not only be allocated but also released, spent, accounted for, and monitored.

She assured that the Senate Committee on Health is committed to following up on how health funds are used to ensure they lead to better services and outcomes for Nigerians.

She added that the reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda for Health are aimed at improving the health and well-being of Nigerians, saving lives, and boosting public trust in the health system.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the speakers agreed on the need to go beyond just increasing the number of women visiting health facilities. They want to ensure that the services provided are timely, affordable, safe, and of good quality.