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Distinguished Guests, Eminent Stakeholders, Partners, and Advocates,
It is with profound gratitude and an unwavering commitment to comprehensive maternal and neonatal health that I stand before you today at this pivotal gathering of the Global Activators Network on Maternal Health, convened by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
This two-day forum is not merely a convening of stakeholders; it is a coalition of dedicated actors who recognise the imperative of collective action to address the crisis of maternal mortality. It is a clarion call to reaffirm our shared vision of a world where no woman dies giving life, where every newborn is given the opportunity to thrive, and where the health and wellbeing of mothers are at the heart of national and global development.
From the very inception of this cause, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has remained resolute in advancing maternal, newborn, and child health as a fundamental right, integrating quality care, financial inclusion, and policy advocacy to improve outcomes for women and newborns across Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.
As a World Economic Forum Global Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, my approach to maternal health is shaped by an international perspective that recognises the interconnectedness of local interventions and global impact. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, with its longstanding commitment to Universal Health Coverage, aligns closely with the objectives of this convening, as we work tirelessly to ensure that maternal health is prioritised within both national and global health systems.
Our mission is clear: the Wellbeing Foundation Africa will continue to accelerate access to high-quality maternal healthcare, reduce preventable deaths, and strengthen the resilience of health systems through strategic, evidence-based interventions.
Nigeria stands at a decisive moment in its maternal health journey. Maternal mortality remains an unacceptably high public health challenge, and every statistic is a sobering reminder of the urgency of our mission. The primary causes, postpartum haemorrhage, hypertension, and sepsis, are not just medical conditions but tragedies that can and must be prevented through robust and coordinated interventions.
These deaths represent not only personal losses for families but also a failure of the systems that should ensure safe pregnancies and childbirths. It is our responsibility, as leaders, policymakers, advocates, and practitioners, to build a future where maternal deaths become a rarity rather than an all-too-common occurrence.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has made significant strides in reinforcing Universal Health Coverage as a national priority. This commitment is exemplified by the ambitious Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII). I commend this strategic initiative and His Excellency, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, as he leads in building a framework that addresses the key barriers to maternal health services, barriers which delay care and ultimately cost lives.
MAMII is structured to confront the five critical delays we see on the frontlines daily at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and combat actively: the delay in seeking care, often due to misinformation, financial constraints, and socio-cultural factors; the delay in reaching care, exacerbated by inadequate transportation infrastructure and logistical challenges; the delay in receiving care, driven by shortages in skilled health professionals and essential medical supplies; the delay in taking responsibility, requiring stronger community engagement and accountability; and the delay in coordination, which highlights the need for seamless integration between policy, financing, and implementation.
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa aligns seamlessly with the objectives of MAMII, bringing to bear our extensive experience in on-the-ground community engagement, quality healthcare delivery, and policy advocacy at global and local levels. Our flagship WBFA program – the MamaCare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Education Classes, has empowered over 1,000,000 women and counting with critical information on pregnancy, nutrition, birth preparedness, and newborn care. By directly addressing the delay in seeking care through our trusted WBFA midwives and nurses, our programming ensures that women are informed and access maternal health services promptly.
Pre-2011 Midwives Service Scheme
Pre-2011, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa actively supported the Federal Government’s Midwives Service Scheme, a bold national effort to deploy midwives to rural and underserved areas where maternal and neonatal mortality rates were unacceptably high. WBFA played a critical advocacy role in urging increased recruitment, training, and deployment of midwives, recognizing that skilled birth attendants are the cornerstone of reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths. This initiative laid the foundation for many of WBFA’s midwifery-led maternal health interventions today, emphasizing community-based care and emergency obstetric responses that continue to save lives.
The Personal Health Records and the Maternal and Child Health Handbook represent one of WBFA’s most impactful contributions to maternal and newborn health. Developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, these tools have ensured millions of Nigerian mothers and newborns have access to structured, continuous health monitoring. The PHR and MCH Handbook have revolutionised patient tracking, antenatal care monitoring, child immunisation adherence, and growth monitoring, creating a systemic, data-driven approach to maternal and newborn health. Most recently, WBFA introduced and validated the Maternal Perinatal Mental Health Checklist, which has now been integrated into the MCH Handbook, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to maternal mental wellbeing, an often-overlooked aspect of reproductive health.
Through our longstanding social impact partnership with Reckitt, WBFA has revolutionised hygiene education and WASH – Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – interventions across healthcare facilities, schools, and communities. Under the WBFA Dettol Hygiene Quest program, WBFA has trained and empowered entire populations on infection prevention, sanitation, and hygiene best practices, recognising that improved hygiene is a direct determinant of maternal and child health outcomes.
The program has reached over 192,419 students, instilling lifelong hygiene habits through structured school-based interventions. In maternal health, over 47,743 pregnant and lactating mothers have received direct education on the critical role of hygiene in reducing maternal and infant infections, while 25,188 community members have been engaged in household-level hygiene education. Furthering its hospital interventions, WBFA has trained 2,305 healthcare workers on infection prevention and control to prevent sepsis and hospital-acquired infections, a major cause of maternal and neonatal mortality. Impressively, the program exceeded its original target by 122%, demonstrating strong demand, high impact, and measurable improvements in hygiene practices across communities.
Additionally, Teach Clean, WBFA’s specialized IPC program, has directly contributed to the Clean Naija movement, preventing sepsis in hospitals and maternity wards, while embedding gold-standard infection control measures into healthcare facilities.
WBFA’s Mamacare+NLift initiative is a comprehensive maternal and child nutrition program that integrates malnutrition prevention, iron and folic acid supplementation, and family planning education into a single, powerful intervention. This program tackles iron deficiency anaemia, a leading contributor to maternal morbidity and poor pregnancy outcomes, by ensuring pregnant women have access to IFA supplements throughout pregnancy.
Since its launch, over 300,000 mothers and children have directly benefited from nutrition counselling, early childhood nutrition support, and family planning services, improving overall maternal and child health indicators across Nigeria. The program has played a pivotal role in reducing anaemia prevalence among pregnant women, enhancing safe pregnancy outcomes and strengthening child survival rates.
A cornerstone of WBFA’s commitment to maternal and newborn health, Mamacare360 NICUPlus is a specialised neonatal intensive care support program designed to empower mothers of preterm and critically ill newborns with essential lactation and breastfeeding knowledge. Research consistently shows that exclusive breastfeeding can significantly improve preterm infant survival, yet many mothers in NICUs lack the guidance and support needed to sustain breastfeeding under such difficult circumstances.
Through Mamacare360 NICUPlus, WBFA has trained midwives and lactation specialists, ensuring that mothers of NICU babies receive immediate and ongoing breastfeeding education and support. The program has already impacted over 2,737 preterm babies, equipping their mothers with the knowledge, breast pumps, and nutrition guidance necessary for exclusive human milk feeding, and has directly led to higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding, reducing neonatal mortality and long-term developmental risks among preterm infants.
WBFA’s partnership with Alive & Thrive has been instrumental in scaling up Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Feeding best practices, with a particular focus on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding education. Since its inception, the program has reached over 400,000 mothers, equipping them with evidence-based breastfeeding techniques and proper infant nutrition counselling.
The program has significantly boosted exclusive breastfeeding rates, directly contributing to reducing infant morbidity and mortality. WBFA’s MIYCF intervention also addresses common barriers to successful breastfeeding, including workplace policies, community misconceptions, and gaps in hospital lactation support.
WBFA-AMREF-Takeda Rapid Assessment of Cancer Treatment Readiness
In 2018, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa in collaboration with Amref Health Africa and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, conducted a pivotal rapid assessment to evaluate Nigeria’s preparedness for cancer treatment. This initiative aimed to identify existing gaps in cancer care infrastructure and services, thereby informing strategies to enhance cancer prevention and treatment across the nation. The assessment revealed significant deficiencies in diagnostic facilities, limited access to care, inadequate technical capacity, and insufficient infrastructure, all contributing to a weakened response to the burgeoning cancer burden in Nigeria. These findings highlighted the critical need for a coordinated effort to bolster the country’s health systems to effectively manage and control cancer.
Primary Health Care CSO Support Group to 8th National Assembly: Consolidated Revenue Fund and BHCPF Advocacy (WBFA and ONE Campaign)
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, in partnership with the ONE Campaign, played a strategic role in advocating for the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as mandated by the National Health Act. This advocacy targeted the 8th National Assembly, emphasizing the necessity of allocating adequate resources to primary health care. The concerted efforts of civil society organizations culminated in the legislative approval and release of funds for the BHCPF, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage. This fund has been instrumental in strengthening primary health care services, ensuring that essential health services are accessible and affordable to all Nigerians, particularly in underserved communities.
EmONC Kwara
The Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care program in Kwara State was a strategic partnership between the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Johnson & Johnson, with the program training over 700 healthcare providers across 51 healthcare facilities spanning all 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State. This extensive training directly benefited an estimated 62,900 women and their newborns in those 30 months, leading to measurable improvements in maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Additionally, the program has established eight skills laboratories equipped with modern training tools to ensure continuous professional development for healthcare workers, with the establishment of 2 centres of excellence and cascading impact which continues to benefit.
WBFA and Laerdal: Increasing Midwives’ Access to Modern Training and Tools (2016–Present)
Since 2016, WBFA has partnered with Laerdal Global Health to enhance midwifery education and practice in Nigeria. This collaboration has focused on providing midwives with access to modern training tools and simulation-based education, such as the MamaNatalie birthing simulators. These tools have been pivotal in preparing midwives to manage birth complications like postpartum haemorrhage, thereby improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. The partnership has also emphasised hands-on training, equipping midwives with the confidence and competence to handle emergencies effectively.
WBFA and Ferring Partners: Advocacy for Heat-Stable Carbetocin
In 2019, during the Ferring Pharmaceuticals Internal Meeting, Malaga, WBFA, in collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, advocated for the adoption of heat-stable carbetocin in Nigeria. This advocacy was driven by the need for effective interventions to prevent postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality. Heat-stable carbetocin offers a significant advantage in low-resource settings, as it does not require refrigeration, making it more practical for use in various climatic conditions. This initiative led to the development of the “Smiles for Mothers”, implemented by Ferring and Solina, aiming to improve maternal health outcomes by ensuring the availability and proper use of this life-saving medication across Nigerian states.
Recognising that early detection of pregnancy complications is key to reducing maternal mortality, WBFA, in partnership with General Electric Healthcare, has trained midwives across Nigeria in portable ultrasound diagnostics. By equipping 249 midwives with ultrasound training, WBFA has enabled early detection of high-risk pregnancies, fetal distress, and complications like placenta previa and multiple gestations, improving antenatal care outcomes.
In partnership with UNHCR, WBFA has extended its maternal and child healthcare services to refugees in Cross River State, ensuring displaced populations receive antenatal care, immunizations, and essential maternal nutrition support. This initiative has helped bridge the gap in healthcare access for vulnerable populations, reinforcing WBFA’s commitment to health equity. Separately, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa advocates for the UNHCR’s 36 Million Solutions campaign, which convenes multi-sector actors across Africa to accelerate private sector leadership in driving sustainable, market-based interventions that advance economic inclusion for displaced populations. This initiative reflects WBFA’s commitment to promoting well-being throughout the entire life course of displaced individuals.
Childhood diarrhoea remains a leading cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria, but WBFA’s intervention with Nutrition International has transformed treatment outcomes through the distribution of Low Osmolarity ORS and Zinc supplementation. To date, over 250,000 children in Sokoto and Kano have received lifesaving ORS and Zinc therapy, dramatically reducing preventable childhood deaths due to dehydration.
GHWP Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) Training
The Global Health Workforce Programme, in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, has made significant strides in enhancing maternal and neonatal healthcare in Nigeria. As of February 2025, the program has successfully trained 225 obstetrics and gynaecology doctors through the Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills course. To facilitate this training, Centers of Excellence have been established in Abuja and Lagos, with additional sessions conducted in Kano and Enugu, thereby strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals nationwide.
WBFA, Reckitt, Nest360, Solina, Lagos State Government – NNJ+K Program (Project Oscar – Light For Life)
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Neonatal Jaundice Screening, Treatment, and Kernicterus Prevention Program, known as Project Oscar – Light For Life, is a collaborative initiative involving WBFA, Reckitt, Nest360, Solina Centre for International Development and Research, and the Lagos State Government. Launched nationally on December 3, 2024, to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this program aims to improve the screening, treatment, and prevention of neonatal jaundice, a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The initiative provides healthcare facilities with essential tools such as phototherapy units and bilirubinometers to ensure accurate diagnoses and timely treatments. It also focuses on training healthcare professionals to effectively manage NNJ and raising awareness among families to dispel misconceptions about the condition. This collaborative effort seeks to reduce neonatal mortality and prevent lifelong disabilities associated with NNJ, with the aim of screening over 9,000 infants, educating over 10,000 mothers and specially training 300 healthcare workers in its first phase.
Past Advocacy: PATHS2 DFID Advocacy on Pre-Eclampsia and Adoption of WHO Breastmilk Substitutes Regulation in Nigeria
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa has a history of impactful advocacy in maternal and child health. Through the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems Phase 2, supported by the UK Department for International Development, WBFA advocated for improved management of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure. This included promoting the use of anti-shock garments to stabilize patients during emergencies. Additionally, WBFA played a crucial role in advocating for the adoption of the World Health Organization’s regulations on breastmilk substitutes in Nigeria, aiming to protect and promote breastfeeding by ensuring appropriate marketing and use of breastmilk substitutes.
From midwifery advocacy since 2004 to groundbreaking frontline maternal and neonatal interventions in 2025, WBFA’s comprehensive, data-driven approach has shaped Nigeria’s maternal, newborn, and child health landscape. Through partnerships, programmatic innovation, and strategic advocacy and policy, WBFA has impacted millions, driving sustainable, long-term improvements in maternal and family health, ensuring that every mother and child has a chance to survive and thrive.
Through sharing the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s evidence-based best practices, the Global Activators Network on Maternal Health Nigeria Workshop offers us a unique opportunity to translate these strategies discussed into tangible action, as we aim to refine the key priority areas that will drive maternal health interventions in Nigeria.
The success of this endeavour depends on a collective approach that brings together public, private, and philanthropic partnerships. Maternal health must not be seen as a siloed government initiative; it must be a national imperative that calls upon the resources, expertise, and innovations of multiple sectors.
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, through its established community-based programming and advocacy for financial protection mechanisms, has long championed a collaborative approach to maternal health, ensuring that women receive the care they need without fear of economic hardship. Our deliberations must yield tangible and sustainable solutions that not only reach the highest levels of policy but also transform realities at the grassroots level where the need is most acute.
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa works with global partners, many of whom join us today, including international organisations, philanthropic entities, and the private sector, to drive transformative and innovative solutions in maternal healthcare, including training, retaining, and equitably deploying skilled midwives, nurses, doctors and healthcare personnel, with a mission to improve maternal outcomes through continuous opportunities for professional development and adequate support structures.
Additionally, the availability of life-saving commodities, such as oxytocin, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate, heat-stable carbetocin, tranexamic acid, blood products, and essential medical equipment, must be guaranteed. No woman should lose her life due to the unavailability of basic medical supplies.
Equally critical is the need to ensure that maternal health services are both accessible and of the highest quality. Primary Health Care Centres must be revitalised to provide comprehensive maternal health services and emergency obstetric and neonatal care must be integrated across all levels of the healthcare system.
However, even the best-equipped facilities will remain underutilised if women do not trust or have the means to access them. This is why community engagement is vital. Through culturally sensitive advocacy, faith-based collaborations, and initiatives that empower women with knowledge, we must drive demand for maternal healthcare and ensure that no woman is left behind.
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s model, which integrates health education, frontline community health worker engagement, emergency obstetric and newborn care training, and the promotion of birth preparedness, has demonstrated that empowered women seek and receive better care, overcome socio-cultural and financial barriers to accessing maternal health services, reach healthcare facilities promptly, and receive high-quality care from well-trained professionals equipped with essential medical supplies. By fostering stronger evidence-based engagement, improving coordination across healthcare systems, and ensuring financial protection for women, WBFA’s model actively addresses the systemic challenges that delay maternal and neonatal care, ultimately reducing preventable deaths and improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Financing remains a significant challenge, and sustainable funding mechanisms must be strengthened to remove economic barriers to care. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund, alongside health insurance schemes, should be optimised to expand coverage and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for maternal health services.
Today, we are gathered here not just to discuss these issues but to take decisive steps towards their resolution. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing maternal health systems through policy acceleration, frontline-driven initiatives, and global partnerships.
Let this be a moment where we not only pledge our dedication but also take concrete actions that will make a measurable difference. The lives of millions of women and newborns depend on the commitments we make today. Each of us must unite in our efforts to build a future where every pregnancy is safe, every birth is attended with care, and every mother has the opportunity to nurture her child without fear.
Thank you.
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