Nigeria: First Lady Seeks More Collaboration Among Tiers of Govt As Govt Distributes 215,000 Maternal Kits

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for greater collaboration among governments, traditional and religious institutions, development partners and philanthropists to tackle Nigeria's high maternal and newborn mortality rates. She made the call as the Federal Government distributed 215,000 Mother and Infant Mortality Reduction kits across the country.

The kits include 40,000 maternal food-support packs and 40,000 sets of newborn clothing, aimed at reaching vulnerable women and families in underserved communities. The First Lady emphasized that pregnancy and childbirth should be occasions of hope and joy, not threats to women's lives.

The distribution of the kits is part of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, aligning with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda on Health. The initiative targets 2.9 million pregnant women and families by 2028, aiming for a 30% reduction in maternal mortality and a 20% reduction in newborn mortality.

The First Lady's commendation came alongside the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who highlighted the need for a 30% reduction in maternal mortality and a 20% reduction in newborn mortality by 2028. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, stressed Nigeria's high burden of preventable maternal deaths, with nearly 39% of global maternal deaths occurring in the country.