The Federal Government has begun the nationwide distribution of essential maternal and child health commodities as part of renewed efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.
The distribution was coordinated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with development partners in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Lagos times reports that the Maternal and Neonatal Health commodities distributed were worth N2.9bn across 10 states.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria’s figures show a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, the fourth highest on Earth.
Each year, approximately 262,000 babies die at birth, the world’s second-highest national total. Infant mortality currently stands at 69 per 1,000 live births, while for under-fives it rises to 128 per 1,000 live births.
It said more than half of the under-five deaths – 64 per cent – result from malaria, pneumonia, or diarrhoea.
Investment in this sector has been high in recent years, although the proportion of patients able to access appropriate treatment remains low.
The Federal Government’s new initiative is therefore seen as a critical step to bridge gaps, reduce stock-outs, and give frontline health workers the tools they need to save lives.
Speaking at the flag-off in Abuja, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPHCDA, 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.
He explained that the first phase will target 21 categories of essential maternal and neonatal health commodities, to be distributed first across 10 states, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The distribution of MNH commodities will cover a total of 1,936 primary healthcare facilities across 80 Local Government Areas nationwide.
The rollout is being implemented by zones to ensure equitable access and prioritisation of high-need areas.
In the North West Zone, 940 Primary Health Centres in 44 LGAs are set to benefit, while the North East Zone will cover 756 PHCs in 29 LGAs.
We need to remind ourselves that our mothers and our newborns deserve better. Too many women die needlessly from preventable causes,” he stated.
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.
“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,” he said.
Aina acknowledged Nigeria’s maternal mortality figures remain unacceptably high and often underreported.
“Regardless of where you look, too many women die needlessly from preventable causes.
