Deborah Akinyosoye
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, has said the Federal Government has approved a $1 billion facility to support all 36 states in addressing the challenge of child and maternal mortality in the country.
Pate, who stated this yesterday, added that the Federal Government was upgrading 774 healthcare facilities nationwide to serve as referral centres capable of providing free treatment for emergency obstetric complications.
The minister disclosed this during the flag-off of the Co-Creation Workshop on the Ogun State Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative, held at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Pate explained that the recently approved $1 billion facility aimed to incentivise states to achieve significant reductions in child and maternal mortality.
He stated: “As part of our commitment to improving child and maternal health, the coordination office has secured resources from HOPE, a $1 billion facility recently approved for all 36 states to drive results.
“Whether it is improving governance, increasing human resources in primary healthcare, or enhancing antenatal care coverage, states will receive incentive payments based on their achievements. This is the structure of the incentive scheme.”
Pate emphasised the importance of the maternal and newborn mortality reduction initiative, launched nationally last week by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as crucial for both the present and future of the country, as it focused on the well-being of mothers and newborns, who would ultimately contribute to national development.
The minister called for collaboration between the federal and state governments to effectively tackle child and maternal mortality.
In his remarks, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described the launch of MAMII as a testament to the state’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Abiodun revealed that two local government areas in the state, Ijebu North East and Ado-Odo/Ota, had maternal mortality rates above the national average of 194 deaths per 100,000 births.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maternal and child health, stating that his government had increased the health sector’s budget allocation to 13 per cent, employed over 800 healthcare professionals to strengthen manpower, and provided 80 tricycles for emergency transport services in rural areas.
He said leveraging innovation, collaboration, and data-driven strategies would drastically reduce and crash maternal and child mortality in the state.
“A 13 per cent budget allocation to the health sector in 2025, which is embedded in the yearly operational plan, underscores our commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and service delivery,” he said.