The Federal Government has begun the rollout of life-saving Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care equipment, essential medicines, medical commodities, ambulances and maternity delivery kits to tackle preventable maternal and newborn deaths across the country.
The intervention, flagged off at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, is being implemented under the Health Sector Renewal Programme through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Sector-Wide Approach and the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the intervention reflects the Tinubu administration’s resolve to ensure that every woman and newborn has access to timely, quality and life-saving healthcare, regardless of location.
“This intervention reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that every woman and every newborn has access to timely, quality and life-saving healthcare, regardless of location,” Pate said.
He noted that the government’s sustained investments in primary healthcare, health infrastructure, emergency referral systems, essential medicines and the health workforce were already expanding access to care across the country.
According to him, “More than 45 million Nigerians now access primary healthcare every quarter,” while the Federal Government, under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Compact, is supporting states through “financing, technical assistance, commodities and strategic investments to accelerate measurable improvements in health outcomes.”
Under the intervention, 15 Local Government Areas in Bauchi State will benefit from the CEmONC services.
The rollout includes the deployment of life-saving equipment to primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, essential medicines and maternal and newborn commodities, more than 17,000 maternity delivery kits, 15 tricycle ambulances and six fully equipped ambulances to strengthen emergency referrals, improve the management of pregnancy-related complications and support safer deliveries.
Pate said the intervention is part of the Federal Government’s wider effort to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality through coordinated investments and stronger health systems.
He said the Federal Government was working to ensure that health interventions translate into real improvements in survival outcomes for mothers and babies, particularly in high-burden states.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, commended the Federal Government for the intervention and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustaining collaboration to improve maternal and newborn healthcare.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Approach, Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, said the intervention demonstrates the practical implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Compact.
He said the compact is a framework through which the Federal Government, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are advancing “a shared reform agenda anchored on mutual accountability, coordinated financing, partnership and measurable results.”
Umar-Sadiq added that the framework “continues to strengthen alignment across all levels of government, ensuring that investments translate into better service delivery and improved health outcomes for Nigerians.”
The minister also congratulated the graduating National Health Fellows from Bauchi State and warned that all equipment, medicines and commodities deployed under the intervention must be used strictly for their intended purpose.
He cautioned against diversion of the supplies and warned health officials not to impose informal charges on beneficiaries.
Pate said the equipment, medicines and commodities should be deployed in a way that directly benefits women and newborns in need of emergency care, stressing that the success of the intervention would depend on accountability and proper use of the resources provided.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining investments and strengthening partnerships that improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, build a resilient health system and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage.