From Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Federal government on Monday launched the Ogun State Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative, MAMII, with the aim of reducing maternal and newborn mortality rate through innovative and sustainable interventions.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Pate, who launched the initiative in Abeokuta yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu unveiled the scheme to reduce pregnant women and newborn deaths in the 36 states.
Pate explained that with the $1 billion facility recently approved for the 36 states as incentives in the health sector, he is confident that with the cooperation of good leaders at federal, state and local levels, as well as key players in the health sector, MAMAII initiative would achieve its goal of reducing the death of mothers and newborn babies in the country.
He said the federal government, through his ministry, is upgrading facilities in the 774 local government areas which would be the referral point for more facilities to be impaneled by the National Health Insurance Service, NHIS, to provide free treatment for emergency obstetric complications during pregnancy and newborn birth.
The minister also announced that the federal government would concentrate its efforts on a subset of 172 local governments which contribute to over 50 percent of maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun said his administration, leveraging innovation, collaboration and data-driven strategies, would drastically reduce and crash maternal and child mortality.
Abiodun, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the state government made significant investments to strengthen the healthcare system.
He said Ogun currently has an overall maternal mortality rate of 194 per 100,000, compared to over 500 per 100,000 nationally.
Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who lauded Governor Abiodun for supporting the opening of MAMAII, said the initiative would go long way to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in two major council areas of Ota and Ijebu North East, recognised in the state.
