By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday officially flagged off the nationwide distribution of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) equipment to states, in a coordinated effort involving federal, state and local governments, as well as development partners, to drastically reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
The event, held in Abuja and led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office, brought together key stakeholders across all tiers of government and the international community, underscoring a unified commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, described the initiative as a fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to protect the lives of Nigerian mothers and children.
“Today is not merely a ceremonial exercise, but a promise fulfilled — that every Nigerian mother deserves a chance to live safely, and every newborn deserves to thrive,” coordinating Minister said.
He disclosed that the current phase targets about 250 secondary health facilities across 30 states, with equipment valued at nearly $200,000 per state, following an earlier intervention that upgraded over 500 primary healthcare centres.
Highlighting early impact, Prof Pate revealed that more than 40,000 women have already accessed life-saving interventions through CEmONC facilities.
“These are not just numbers. They are mothers and families whose lives have been saved,” he said.
He stressed that beyond equipment, a functional health system requires strong referral systems, reliable supply chains, steady electricity, skilled personnel, and sustained community awareness.
“We need data-driven decision-making and accountability at all levels. Above all, we must continue collaborating, because no single institution can achieve the scale of change required to crush maternal mortality,” he added.
The coordinating Minister further stressed that the phased rollout of the equipment will continue as more states complete needs assessments, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that no Nigerian woman dies from preventable causes during childbirth and every newborn has a chance to survive and thrive.
States, LGs Pledge Support
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Abdulrahman Ahmed commended the Federal Government for delivering on its commitments under the health sector compact and assured that states would ensure effective utilization of the equipment.
He emphasized the need for adequate human resources and the establishment of preventive maintenance systems.
“We will ensure these equipments are deployed to local governments and put to proper use. Maintenance systems will also be put in place to sustain them,” he said.
Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, described the intervention as critical to preventing avoidable deaths.
Drawing an analogy, Filani said: “Lives are not like games where you can restart after losing. Once a life is lost, it is gone. Our work is to prevent those losses.”
He assured that states would not only utilize the equipment effectively but also continue to invest in health workforce expansion and improved welfare to retain skilled professionals.
Filani also referenced ongoing reforms under programmes such as HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC, which incentivize states to recruit and retain healthcare workers and strengthen service delivery.
At the local government level, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), represented by Dr. Ben Nkechika, pledged to strengthen referral systems by supporting primary healthcare facilities and ensuring proper deployment and security of the equipment.
“We will operationalize local government health authorities and ensure these equipments are protected and effectively used at the grassroots,” he said.
SWAp, Financing and Reform Framework
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the SWAp Coordination Office, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, explained that the intervention is anchored on a results-based financing model that rewards states for achieving measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.
“This is about sustainability and efficiency — using government systems while ensuring value for money. States are incentivized to deliver results, whether in human resources, infrastructure, or service delivery,” he said.
He noted that the initiative reflects a collaborative “ask-and-offer” framework, where the Federal Government provides equipment while states invest in infrastructure, staffing, and operations.
Providing further context, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, Dr. Olumide Okunola, said the programme is part of a deliberate reform process rooted in the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Compact agreed upon in December 2023.
“This did not happen by accident. It was intentional, built on consensus among federal, state, and local governments, alongside development partners,” he said.
Okunola added that reducing maternal mortality is critical not only for health outcomes but also for Nigeria’s economic growth and human capital development.
“When fewer women die, countries make stronger economic progress. This is a human capital investment,” he noted.
Health Insurance, Access to Care
Also speaking, representative of the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Nnenna Kalu, highlighted the role of health financing in improving access to care.
She revealed that over 45,000 claims have been processed under the CEmONC programme since 2024, with additional thousands recorded under neonatal care services.
“Each claim represents a life saved and a future protected. Our goal is to ensure Nigerians can access care without financial hardship,” she said.
Kalu noted that NHIA is also supporting vulnerable populations through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, expanding access to maternal and newborn care services nationwide.
Partners Call for Sustained Effort
Development partners reaffirmed their support while urging sustained commitment from all stakeholders.
A representative of the Gates Foundation described the intervention as significant but insufficient on its own to fully address maternal mortality.
“This is a step forward, but only a fraction of what is needed. States must build on this and invest more in revitalizing health facilities,” the representative said.
Call for Accountability, Collective Action
Across all speeches, stakeholders emphasized that equipment alone cannot save lives without complementary investments in human resources, maintenance, power supply, supply chains, and community engagement.
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They also called for strict accountability and data-driven decision-making to ensure optimal utilization of resources.
The Federal Government reiterated that monitoring mechanisms would be strengthened to prevent misuse or diversion of equipment.
The event ended up with a shared commitment by all tiers of government and partners to deepen collaboration under the SWAp framework and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.
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