By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths through new policy guidelines, complementary healthcare interventions and a $1 billion private-sector commitment aimed at strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services across the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) Compact Session, featuring the showcase, compact unveiling and TEAM-08 launch.
Pate said the government was complementing the MAMII Compact with additional policy instruments and guidelines to improve maternal healthcare, strengthen the capacity of health workers and ensure that innovations translate into better health outcomes for women and newborns.
He listed the National Training Guidelines for Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, fiscal framework for maternal and newborn healthcare, national policy on postpartum family planning, self-care guidelines, permanent family planning methods, as well as the National Task Shifting and Task Sharing Policy among the complementary interventions.
According to him, these instruments are designed to ensure that investments in private-sector resources, innovations and new healthcare technologies are matched with adequate training, guidance and regulatory standards for healthcare workers.
The minister stressed that access to healthcare must go hand in hand with quality service delivery, noting that both are essential to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
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He welcomed the partners and stakeholders contributing to the initiative, describing the $1 billion private-sector commitment as a significant intervention, particularly at a challenging period.
Pate expressed appreciation to the private sector on behalf of the Federal Government and Nigerians, describing the commitment as an important boost to the country’s efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
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