UNICEF and Borno State Government Launch Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has launched a new policy in collaboration with the Borno State Government to reduce maternal mortality in the state. The initiative, known as the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII), aims to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Borno State. According to Francis Busiku, the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Borno State has been identified as one of the states in Nigeria with the highest contribution to maternal and neonatal mortality. He emphasized that every day, women face life-threatening risks while giving birth, and that the initiative aligns with UNICEF's core mandate of protecting children and women.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UNICEF has donated 3,700 Mama kits containing essential items for clean and safe childbirth to pregnant women in Borno State.
  • The Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII) aims to reduce maternal mortality in Borno State by improving health infrastructure, human resource capacity, and data quality.
  • Francis Busiku called on stakeholders, including the government, traditional leaders, civil society, and development partners, to join hands in scaling up the MAMII intervention.
  • UNICEF has committed to supporting the improvement of health infrastructure and equipment, human resource capacity, provision of medicines and vaccines, and support to data quality improvement and health digitization.
  • The initiative has also been extended to other sectors, including nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, and protection.

Statistics:

  • One woman dies giving birth every 8 minutes in Borno State.
  • The initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality in Borno State by providing essential items for clean and safe childbirth to pregnant women.
  • 3,700 Mama kits have been donated by UNICEF to pregnant women in Borno State.
  • The Borno State Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Development Board are collaborating with UNICEF to equip primary health centers, train health workers, mobilize communities, and improve health infrastructure.

Sources:

  • UNICEF, "UNICEF Rolls Out New Policy to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Borno State"