Advancing Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria: Challenges and Promising Initiatives

Nigeria is advancing efforts to combat high maternal and child mortality rates through initiatives like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and collaborative projects with the Global Financing Facility and World Bank. These programs focus on enhancing health services, particularly in underserved areas, while also addressing adolescent health. Despite progress, ongoing challenges such as underfunding and economic constraints threaten these achievements.

Hajiya A’ishatu, a resident of Tudun-Wada city in Gombe State, Nigeria, recalls the supportive care she received while giving birth to her children at the local Primary Health Care Facility. Her gratitude reflects the broader efforts being undertaken to combat the high rates of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. With maternal mortality accounting for 20% of the global burden, the government has implemented initiatives to enhance health services, especially in underserved areas.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund has been pivotal, channeling resources towards strengthening primary health care infrastructure. Backed by financing and technical assistance from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF), the program commenced as a pilot in three states and has since expanded nationwide. Approximately 900 facilities have benefited from improved maternity wards, availability of medications, and skilled health personnel. Numerous services including deliveries and pregnancy care are offered at no cost, encouraging community access.
Furthermore, the Nigeria State Health Investment Project, supported by the GFF and World Bank, has focused on the Northeast regions affected by conflict, significantly increasing safe deliveries from 22% to 68% between 2014 and 2020, prior to the pandemic. Immunization rates for children have also markedly improved during this period, demonstrating the program’s positive impact.
Attention has also shifted to adolescent health, with projects initiated to enhance access to family planning and nutrition services for young girls. The Accelerating Nutrition Results project, covering 12 states, has successfully reached nearly 5 million pregnant women and over 7 million children under five, addressing severe malnutrition among vulnerable populations.
Nonetheless, challenges linger, including underfunding for maternal and child health services. Zainab Umar Ciroma, a facility manager, highlights ongoing staff shortages and increased patient wait times. Recent economic downturns have rendered health services more costly, forcing many women to seek alternative care. Sumaiya Yakubu indicates a troubling shift back to home births due to financial constraints.
In response to these obstacles, the Nigerian government has announced the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a strategic plan aimed at significantly reducing maternal and child mortality. This initiative seeks alignment among partners through a Sector Wide Approach, establishing coherent strategies in times of limited resources. A newly approved $570 million primary health care project by the World Bank exemplifies this collaborative effort, combining resources from various sources to ensure essential health services are available in vulnerable communities.
The government’s commitment to enhancing health sector collaboration and strategic investment signifies a beneficial progress towards improving health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents across Nigeria.

Maternal and child health in Nigeria faces significant challenges, characterized by alarmingly high mortality rates. The country accounts for a substantial percentage of global maternal deaths. In response, governmental and international organizations have recognized the need for strategic initiatives to improve health services, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected communities. Collaborative efforts aim to bolster primary health care infrastructures and educational outreach to ensure more women and children receive adequate care.

In conclusion, while Nigeria has made commendable strides in enhancing maternal and child health services, substantial challenges remain. With improved financing and targeted initiatives, there is potential for transformative change. It is imperative that the government and its partners continue to work collaboratively to address funding shortages, enhance care accessibility, and ultimately reduce preventable deaths among women and children. The focus on strategic health investments represents a hopeful avenue for saving lives in Nigeria.

Original Source: www.worldbank.org