The federal government has launched the nationwide distribution of essential maternal and child health commodities in a renewed effort to curb Nigeria’s high rate of maternal and newborn deaths.
Coordinated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with development partners, the initiative seeks to strengthen maternal and child health services and reduce preventable mortality.
In the first phase of distributing the 21 priority maternal and neonatal commodities, which commenced on Monday, items valued at about ₦2.9 billion were shared across 10 states, with the Northwest receiving 60 percent, the Northeast 34 percent, the North Central 4 percent, and one State in the Southeast 2 percent.
The initial phase targets 80 out of 172 local governments within the selected States.
Speaking at the flag-off in Abuja on Monday, the Executive Director (ED) of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, stressed that the initiative was designed to save lives, close service delivery gaps, and support states in strengthening primary healthcare systems.
According to Aina, reducing maternal and newborn deaths remains a pressing national priority. “We need to remind ourselves that our mothers and our newborns deserve better. Too many women die needlessly from preventable causes.
He explained that the distribution prioritizes regions with the highest burden of maternal deaths, saying, “When you don’t have enough resources or time to go everywhere at once, you prioritize where the need is biggest, where you have the largest number of women losing their lives due to preventable causes.
“That’s the basis for selecting ten states to start with,” he said.
The ED added that commodities are being delivered alongside training for health workers, equipment supply, and infrastructure upgrades to ensure quality care for mothers and newborns.
While the Federal government is providing leadership, he stressed that sustainability depends on states and local governments, noting, “The states have the primary responsibility for service delivery.
“This is an intervention by the federal government to fill some gaps and show the kind of difference they can make, so that states will take it on”.
Aina acknowledged Nigeria’s maternal mortality figures remain unacceptably high and often underreported, stressing that, “Regardless of where you look, too many women die needlessly from preventable causes.
“Whether you cite a figure of 500 or more per 100,000 live births, the truth is that even 10 is uncalled for.”
He said the government will begin annual tracking of maternal mortality to refine strategies, “If our strategy is working, we double down. If it’s not working, we pivot as appropriate,” he added.
On sustainability, Aina disclosed that agreements had been reached with States to ensure continuity, “Part of the reason why it’s taken us a bit of time to push this out is we wanted that commitment from States that they are going to make this sustainable.
“The funding for these commodities should come from that level,” the ED explained, noting that planning for the next distribution phase has already begun.
The representative of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) commodities emphasized that states must back the initiative with budgetary support.
“Each of the 21 States we are working with has developed an annual operational plan with maternal and newborn implementation built in, meaning government budgets will fund this.
“What is being released now is basically to prime the pump. We expect states to reciprocate and release their own funds to continue saving the lives of women and children,” he said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Dr. Mary Brantwo, described the commodities as “tools of hope, dignity, and survival” that represent a shared commitment to safeguarding mothers and newborns.
She commended NPHCDA for ensuring that supplies reach the communities where they are most needed, saying, “This handover is a testament to the power of partnership, and to the progress that is possible when we align our efforts with national priorities and global standards.”
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, Achu Lordfred, said the intervention aligns with UNFPA’s focus on preventing maternal deaths, promoting family planning, and ending gender-based violence.
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He highlighted recent support for life-saving interventions such as heat-stable carbetocin, which reduces maternal deaths, and expressed hope the commodities would “accelerate progress in reducing maternal and newborn deaths in our frontline facilities.”
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also pledged continued support.
Its Senior Officer, Khalilu Muhammed, said the initiative aligns with the foundation’s vision of spreading innovations, ending diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty.
He praised the government’s leadership, noting the importance of private sector collaboration, “We are meeting here in a private sector facility because we know that the private sector is critical to ensuring quality healthcare delivery,” he said.
Muhammed reiterated the foundation’s commitment, adding, “Our goal ultimately is to create a world where everybody has the opportunity to survive and thrive.”