Distinguished guests, healthcare professionals, advocates, and partners. It is an honour to address you today on World Prematurity Day, a day where we pause to reflect on the global impact of preterm births and renew our commitment to ensuring that every baby born too soon has access to quality care, no matter where they are born.

Today’s theme, “Over 13 Million Babies Born Too Soon Every Year: Access to Quality Care Everywhere,” is a profound call to action. Preterm birth is the world’s leading cause of death in children under five, with Nigeria facing one of the highest burdens of preterm births globally. Every year, over 300,000 babies are born prematurely in Nigeria alone. They face a range of health challenges, from respiratory issues and infections to severe complications like neonatal jaundice, which, if left untreated, can result in permanent neurological damage, including kernicterus, a preventable and debilitating condition. 

Through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, our mission has always been to bridge the gaps in maternal and child healthcare, ensuring that both mothers and babies have the support they need at every critical stage. This mission is close to my heart, stemming from my personal experience as a mother who delivered three of my four children prematurely. I understand the challenges, the fears, and the hopes that come with preterm birth, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that families facing these challenges have access to the highest quality of care.

A cornerstone of our efforts is Project Oscar, a Neonatal Jaundice And Kernicterus Prevention Detection And Treatment  Initiative In Lagos State Primary, Secondary And Tertiary Health Care Facilities, launched in collaboration with our dedicated social impact partner, Reckitt. Initially piloted in Vietnam, Project Oscar was created by youth disability advocate Oscar Anderson to tackle the urgent issue of neonatal jaundice. Following its success, Project Oscar has expanded into Nigeria, where it aims to bring life-saving interventions for jaundice to preterm and full-term newborns alike, especially in underserved communities. 

In Nigeria, 60% of term newborns and 80% of preterm infants develop jaundice within their first week. While mild in many cases, jaundice can quickly become severe and life-threatening, particularly for preterm babies. Recognising the urgency of this situation, Project Oscar is committed to increasing early detection and providing timely access to phototherapy and other treatments that prevent the progression of jaundice to dangerous levels. 

Through Project Oscar, we work closely with healthcare providers and communities to raise awareness about neonatal jaundice, empowering parents to recognise early warning signs and access timely medical support. We have implemented a rigorous global standard of training protocol for frontline healthcare workers to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to identify, monitor, and treat jaundice effectively. Our WBFA team has also focused on developing educational materials tailored to local languages and cultural contexts, making it easier for communities to understand and act on this critical information.

Our social impact partnership with Reckitt is vital in mobilising resources and providing health facilities with essential phototherapy equipment, jaundice metres, and treatment protocols, all of which are set to make a profound difference in the lives of Nigerian families. 

Additionally, our partnership allows us to integrate sustainable practices into neonatal care, creating a scalable model that can be expanded across the country. By training healthcare professionals and embedding best practices in hospitals and clinics, Project Oscar aims to leave a lasting impact on neonatal health in Nigeria and around the world through the Light for Life campaign, helping to prevent the long-term disabilities associated with untreated jaundice.

Alongside our efforts to address jaundice, we continue to promote and support breastfeeding as an essential element of neonatal care through the Mamacare360 NICU Plus programming. Our WBFA midwives are actively engaged in providing lactation support to mothers, emphasising the importance of breast milk as a natural defence against infections and a vital source of nutrition, particularly for preterm infants. In addition to the practical benefits, breastfeeding fosters a critical bond between mother and child, nurturing emotional resilience in both and supporting long-term health outcomes. 

By empowering mothers with breastfeeding support, we are contributing to a holistic model of neonatal care, one that goes beyond survival to encompass the thriving of newborns. In communities across Nigeria, our WBFA midwives have become trusted sources of information and support, offering guidance on initiating and sustaining breastfeeding, even in challenging circumstances.

Today, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to our social impact partners at Reckitt, our healthcare professionals, midwives, and the communities who continue to support our mission. Your dedication to this cause has been instrumental in making tangible progress toward a future where all babies, regardless of where they are born, have an equal chance to survive and thrive.

On this World Prematurity Day, as we honour the millions of babies born too soon, let us reaffirm our commitment to bridging the gap in neonatal care, particularly for those born in underserved areas. Together, we can ensure that every baby receives the care they need to start life healthy, supported, and safe. 

Thank you.

Building Trust for a Healthier World

As the World Health Summit 2024 convenes in Berlin, an international platform for global health, setting the agenda for a healthier future and wellbeing for all, I was pleased to virtually engage and provide a keynote goodwill at the World Health Summit 2024 Pre-Conference Partners Symposium on Self-Care, organised by the World Health Organization Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, in collaboration with the Global Self-Care Federation.

Amplifying the Joint Statement on Self-Care Interventions for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to Advance Universal Health Coverage, endorsed by the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, the Symposium aimed to develop a global action plan to operationalise actions to help guide academic researchers, industry, health policy and decision-makers, and funders, as they design and fund health systems and people-centered activities to influence self-care policies and practices.

The success of self-care interventions relies heavily on a well-trained health workforce that can support these initiatives with competency-based education. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa midwives, nurses, and other frontline health personnel play a pivotal role in promoting trust in self-care and ensuring that individuals have the knowledge and confidence to use these tools effectively.

This will serve to move the world closer to achieving the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals targets, including Universal Health Cover, in line with the WHO’s thirteenth and fourteenth General Programmes of Work (GPW-13 and GPW-14), as supported by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and together through strategic investment, policy innovation, and collaborative action, we can accelerate progress toward a world where health and wellbeing are within reach for all.

 

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Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, and Valued Participants,

My name is Toyin Saraki, and I am the Founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a Nigerian NGO dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes for women and children. Our mission is rooted in prioritising frontline impact through global advocacy, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organisation’s Special Initiative for Mental Health, committed to creating a world where mental wellbeing is a fundamental aspect of health for all.

Thank you for your presence here today as we gather to confront one of the most pressing public health issues of our time: suicide prevention. I extend my gratitude to our convener, Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, and the entire organising committee for convening this important conference, dedicated to addressing the theme of “Decriminalising Suicide Attempt in Nigeria: Long Overdue.” I would also like to express my appreciation to Thilini Perera, CEO of LifeLine International, and the Nigeria LifeLine Member Organisations and supporters joining us today, including Asido Foundation, for their unwavering support. Your commitment to mental health advocacy and suicide prevention has been instrumental in advancing our collective efforts, and it is an honour to collaborate with you in this vital mission.

Today, we stand at a critical juncture in our collective efforts to promote mental health and prevent suicide across Nigeria. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) has been at the forefront of these initiatives, working tirelessly to integrate mental health services within broader health systems strengthening. Through high-level collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WBFA has made significant strides in stakeholder advocacy and policy implementation.

We are currently confronting a profound issue that touches the lives of many Nigerians: the criminalisation of attempted suicide under Sections 327 and 231 of our legal framework. This outdated law serves as a harsh reminder to those struggling with mental health issues that their suffering is not only misunderstood but condemned. In a country where the stigma surrounding mental health is pervasive, the fear of legal repercussions inhibits individuals from seeking the help they desperately need.
The data from the World Health Organisation is alarming. Suicide claims more lives each year than HIV, malaria, or even violent deaths such as homicide, war, or terrorist attacks. It is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally, and Nigeria ranks high in suicide rates, with approximately 15,000 annual deaths attributed to this tragic outcome. These numbers are likely underreported due to the fear of criminalisation and societal stigma. We must recognise that for every life lost, there are at least 30 attempts, indicating that around 300,000 Nigerians face suicidal distress each year, questioning whether to seek help amidst the threat of punishment.
It is imperative that we work towards decriminalising suicide attempts in Nigeria. We must shift our focus from punishment to compassion, recognising that suicide is a public health issue that requires a response rooted in understanding and care. By doing so, we can begin to break the cycle of silence and neglect that currently surrounds mental health issues in our society.

That is why I am humbled to be joining efforts directly through my new appointment as Global Honorary Patron of LifeLine International, a dedicated organisation ensuring universal access to suicide prevention and crisis support services. In partnership, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and I aim to combat stigma by raising awareness, educating communities about the warning signs, and encouraging help-seeking behaviour change. I am committed to leveraging my experience and the resources of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa to empower vulnerable and marginalised populations with the quality they deserve throughout the continuum of care, and reach the goal that by 2050, every individual, regardless of their location, has access to high-quality crisis support services.

As we engage in discussions about the National Suicide Prevention Framework, we must reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that mental health and suicide prevention are recognised as critical public health priorities. The commitment to these frameworks not only signifies the government’s responsibility towards its citizens but also embodies the hopes of countless individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges.

This conference today serves to provide us with a a comprehensive understanding of the legal, policy, and cultural contexts of suicide in Nigeria, a clear roadmap for the decriminalisation of suicide, supported by evidence-based recommendations, enhanced collaboration between government, civil society, and religious institutions in suicide prevention efforts and increased public awareness and de-stigmatisation of suicide and mental health conditions.

In closing, let us express loudly and proudly our commitment to mental health and suicide prevention, recognising them as critical public health priorities. By working collaboratively and consistently, we can break down the barriers to mental health care and ensure that everyone has access to the support they need, creating a compassionate society where no one faces these challenges in isolation.

Thank you.