The Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative has encouraged Nigerians to support the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project’s vision for maternal health reform in the country.
Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator, SWAp, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that in November 2024, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, officially launched MAMII to target the root causes of maternal and neonatal mortality in high-risk communities.
Umar-Sadiq said that the country continued to face significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, with rates remaining over 500 deaths per 100,000 live births for nearly two decades.
He said that the country’s maternal health crisis was particularly concentrated in 172 local government areas (LGAs), which account for 55 per cent of maternal deaths.
“The initiative uses the SWAp, which brings together all stakeholders with one plan, one budget, one report, and one voice.
“MAMII is designed to address the five critical delays contributing to maternal deaths, including:
“Delay in seeking medical care; delay in reaching a health facility; delay in receiving adequate care; delay in taking responsibility for mortality reviews and delay in coordinating interventions across various sectors, “ he said.
He said that the fifth delay, coordinating interventions, marked a significant shift in the country’s address to maternal health.
He said that by fostering better alignment among government bodies, health organisations, and community stakeholders, MAMII sought to reduce fragmentation and create a unified, strategic response to maternal deaths.
“The MAMII framework encompasses multiple key pillars, like community programming and innovation and access interventions.
He said that it would ensure that Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) facilities were well-equipped to provide timely, quality care.
He said that it would track progress through scorecards and ensure transparent governance to guide the programme’s implementation.
He said that it would leverage digital tools, and local incentives would play a key role in enhancing the program’s success.
“The approach will coordinate resources and technical assistance across government tiers, ensuring a nationwide impact” he said.
According to him, the focus of MAMII is not just on national strategies but on local solutions tailored to the specific needs of high-risk LGs.
“By conducting deep-dive analyses into these areas, MAMII will identify the unique factors contributing to maternal mortality and design context-specific interventions.
“This initiative is a collective effort that demands the participation of all Nigerians.
“We must all unite to tackle maternal mortality, particularly in communities where it is most severe,” he said.
NAN recalls that MAMII is a multistakeholder initiative that will rely on community engagement, health system strengthening, and strong governance to create lasting change.
As the programme rolls out, the Nigerian government is urging citizens, health professionals, civil society, and development partners to rally behind MAMII’s vision.
The programme will also be closely monitored, with progress tracked through scorecards, ensuring accountability and transparency in achieving its ambitious goals.
With the political will and strategic coordination offered by MAMII, stakeholders said that the country had a real opportunity to tackle maternal mortality head-on.
They said that the programme’s success will depend on the collective commitment of all Nigerians, reaffirming the belief that together, the nation can achieve a future with safer pregnancies and healthier mothers and babies.(NAN)
