Closing Keynote Address 

Honourable Leaders, Distinguished Guests, and Esteemed Colleagues, 

It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to address you today at the culmination of this pivotal dialogue on advancing sustainable global health systems. Our discussions over the course of this entire summit have reaffirmed an urgent and inescapable truth: the health of humanity, the health of our planet, and the health of economies are deeply interconnected. We can no longer afford to address these challenges in isolation. The future of healthcare in Nigeria, across Sub-Saharan Africa, and around the world depends on our ability to build sustainable, equitable, and resilient health systems that are prepared to withstand the challenges of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow.

As we reflect on the commitments made here today, we must acknowledge that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it is already having devastating effects on health outcomes across Africa. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and environmental degradation are driving the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera, and respiratory illnesses, while extreme weather events, from droughts in the Sahel to devastating floods in Nigeria, are displacing families, disrupting healthcare services, and pushing vulnerable communities further into poverty. These environmental challenges exacerbate existing maternal and child health disparities, leaving pregnant women and newborns at even greater risk.

At The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we have seen first-hand how climate change is not just an environmental crisis, but a health crisis, one that disproportionately impacts women, children, and marginalised communities. Through our work on maternal, newborn, and child health, we have witnessed how poor air quality increases the risk of preterm births and respiratory conditions in newborns. We have seen how the displacement caused by floods and droughts disrupts access to essential prenatal and postnatal care, putting both mothers and babies at risk. And we have seen how food insecurity, driven by climate-induced agricultural losses, is leading to rising cases of malnutrition and stunted growth in young children across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

These are not abstract statistics, they are lived realities for millions of people in the communities we serve, and they are why today’s conversations on transitioning to sustainable healthcare systems are so critical. If we are to build a healthier and more equitable future for all, then we must take bold steps to integrate climate resilience into every aspect of our healthcare infrastructure, from the way we deliver care in rural communities to the way we design and power our hospitals.

The commitments we have heard today, from decarbonising healthcare supply chains to investing in climate-smart hospitals, are essential steps forward, but we must ensure that these commitments do not remain theoretical aspirations, but translate into real impact for the communities that need them most. For countries like Nigeria, where healthcare infrastructure is already under significant strain, we cannot afford to have sustainability seen as a luxury, it must be a necessity, embedded in the very foundation of how we design and deliver care.

This means taking practical, scalable actions to transition to more resilient and climate-smart health systems. First, we must invest in renewable energy for healthcare facilities. In Nigeria, where over 60% of healthcare facilities lack reliable electricity, the need for sustainable energy solutions is not just an environmental responsibility, it is a matter of life and death. Solar-powered clinics and hospitals offer a transformative solution, ensuring that life-saving medical care can be delivered without the constant threat of power outages. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa has long championed solarisation projects for maternal and child health centers, guaranteeing that pregnant women can access essential services without disruption. Expanding these efforts will strengthen healthcare delivery across rural and urban communities alike.

Second, we must strengthen community-based healthcare and preventative care. The future of sustainable healthcare in Africa cannot be hospital-centric. We must prioritise primary and preventative healthcare at the community level, ensuring that diseases are detected and treated early, rather than relying on costly emergency interventions. Nigeria’s success in reducing maternal and child mortality has been driven by the dedication of frontline health workers, midwives, and community-based programs like WBFA’s MamaCare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Classes initiative. This program provides expectant mothers with essential education and support throughout pregnancy and beyond. By integrating climate and environmental awareness into these programs, we can empower families with the knowledge and resources they need to protect their own health in the face of environmental challenges.

Third, we must reform healthcare supply chains to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Nigeria, as the largest economy in Africa, faces a paradox—despite its economic strength, its healthcare supply chains remain highly inefficient, with significant waste, emissions, and gaps in distribution. The transition to sustainable health systems must include investment in green procurement, localised production of essential medicines, and the reduction of single-use plastics and medical waste. If multinational pharmaceutical companies can commit to decarbonizing their supply chains, then we must ensure that this progress extends to African healthcare ecosystems, where inefficiencies contribute to both environmental and health burdens.

Finally, we must integrate climate resilience into medical training and education. The next generation of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to climate-related health challenges. Around the world, global universities are leading the way by embedding climate-conscious medical curricula into their programs. It is imperative that medical schools in Nigeria and across Africa follow suit, ensuring that climate resilience and sustainability are not treated as optional add-ons, but as core components of healthcare education. By preparing our future healthcare workforce with climate literacy and sustainability expertise, we ensure that they are ready to lead in building a health system that is adaptive, responsive, and prepared for the challenges ahead.

While these strategies represent a pathway forward, the real challenge lies in implementation, and this is where I urge each of us, governments, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and civil society organisations, to take bold and decisive action.

We must invest, not just pledge. Commitments must be backed by sustained financing, innovative funding mechanisms, and public-private partnerships that enable real, on-the-ground impact.

We must collaborate across sectors. No single institution or government can drive this transition alone. The private sector, the public sector, academia, and civil society must work together to accelerate the adoption of sustainable health policies and practices.

We must put equity at the heart of sustainability. A net-zero healthcare transition must not widen the gap between rich and poor nations. Climate-smart healthcare solutions must reach the most underserved and vulnerable communities first, not last.

And most importantly, we must hold ourselves accountable. The commitments made today must be tracked, measured, and evaluated. The success of our collective efforts will not be judged by words, but by lives saved, emissions reduced, and healthcare systems strengthened.

As we look ahead to 2030, the actions we take now will define the future of healthcare in Nigeria, across Africa, and beyond. If we succeed, we will build a healthcare system that is resilient, equitable, and sustainable, one that is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century with strength and foresight. If we fail, we will see rising climate-driven health crises, deepening inequalities, and unnecessary loss of life.

I refuse to accept the latter outcome. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa remains steadfast in its mission to drive this transformation, from the frontlines of maternal and child health to the highest levels of global policy advocacy, but we cannot do it alone.

Let us ensure that today’s discussions do not end here. Let us go forward with a renewed commitment to action, to collaboration, and to a vision of healthcare that is truly sustainable, resilient, and just. Let today be remembered not just for the promises we made, but for the actions we take. The future of health in Nigeria and across Africa depends on it. 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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I was honoured to deliver the opening keynote virtually at the Africa REACH Friends and Partners Group Breakfast Side Event during The International Workshop on Adolescence, SRHR, & HIV 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya this week, within my capacity as an Africa REACH Inaugural Leadership Council member, and under this years theme of “Building a Brighter Future: Staying Ahead of the Evolving HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Landscape.”

Addressing the critical theme of “The Triple Threat: HIV, Adolescent Pregnancies, and Gender-Based Violence in High Burden HIV Countries,” Africa REACH Leadership Council Members and allies hosted this critical breakfast side event in collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Through my keynote, I highlighted the urgent need for collective action, advanced by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, as the solutions are clear: comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly health services, community engagement, economic empowerment for young women, and stronger legal frameworks to protect against violence, can unlock the full potential of Africa’s youth and create a future where they are empowered, healthy, and safe.

I look forward to the continued collaboration and action generated from this important dialogue.

Africa Reaching the End of AIDS in Children and Young People in Africa by 2025 (Africa REACH) is an African-led, African-focused initiative founded in 2022 that envisions an Africa where children and young people are free from AIDS. Chaired by my dear friend and sister, H.E. MonicaGeingos, Africa REACH works towards an AIDS-Free Generation of African Youth, in support of AfricanUnion objectives.

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Keynote address:

Distinguished hosts, esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is with an unwavering sense of purpose that I rise to address you this evening at the McKinsey Roundtable on Closing the Women’s Health Gap in Africa. I extend my sincere appreciation to the McKinsey Health Institute for convening this essential dialogue, and for the tireless, evidence-based work the team have undertaken in recent years to make visible what has for too long remained unseen, to give voice to those unheard, and to make the case for investing in the health of women and girls as not only a moral imperative, but an economic necessity. 

It is especially meaningful that we gather here today on World Health Day, under the newly launched 2025 World Health Organization global theme and year-long campaign “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” which compels us to centre maternal and newborn health as a critical axis of sustainable development, not just in policy but in practice. It calls upon us to strengthen systems, elevate midwifery and frontline care, and ensure that every woman’s journey to motherhood is supported with dignity, safety, and respect. In so doing, we honour the truth that healthy beginnings are the seedbed of hopeful futures, not only for individual families, but for entire nations.

As a long-standing contributor to the McKinsey Health Institute’s consultation process, and as a Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health at the World Economic Forum, I have witnessed first-hand the rising momentum around this issue. Yet, we must be candid: progress has not kept pace with need.

Women across the world spend, on average, 25 percent more of their lives in poor health than men. This figure, though simple in its expression, encapsulates generations of systemic exclusion. It is a statistic that carries the weight of silence, of misdiagnosed symptoms, of underfunded research, of neglected care, of social and structural inequity.

According to the landmark report “Closing the Women’s Health Gap: A $1 Trillion Opportunity”, developed by McKinsey in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, closing this gap could generate an additional 75 million healthy life years for women each year – the equivalent of adding seven days of healthy life annually for every woman on the planet. This is not an abstraction. This is real time restored to real lives,  time spent learning, working, caregiving, leading, and living fully.

Moreover, the report reveals that addressing the health gap has the potential to contribute an estimated $1 trillion in global GDP annually by the year 2040. If we ever needed proof that women’s health is not a cost but a catalyst, this is it.

Yet unfortunately, numbers alone do not move hearts nor policies. It is our duty to translate data into action, and action into systems that endure. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, which I founded over two decades ago, stands as a living laboratory of such action. Our work bridges gaps, not only between women and the healthcare they need, but between communities and institutions, data and dignity, local realities and global strategies.

Our flagship Mamacare360 programme, implemented in more than 68 healthcare facilities across Nigeria, has reached over 59,000 pregnant women in the past year alone, and over one million since inception, delivering free, comprehensive, quality antenatal and postnatal education, respectful maternity care, and access to vital services.

Furthering this, the WBFA NICU Plus initiative addresses the needs of the mothers of our smallest and most vulnerable citizens, premature and low-birthweight newborns, ensuring their mothers receive lactation support to breastfeed and bond, even in the most high-stress environments, improving the physical and mental health outcomes for mothers and their babies.

Alongside this, we have expanded the reach of our Mamacare360 Digital Midwifery Platform to ensure that distance or digital divides do not become barriers to trusted, real-time medical advice. 

These WBFA programmes are informed by a clear philosophy that health systems must be people-centred, gender-responsive, and equity-driven. We are guided by the WHO Quality of Care Standards and committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, but above all, we are inspired by the women we serve, whose stories of resilience, innovation, and courage drive us forward.

Yet our work cannot and must not occur in isolation. The Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap, published this year, provides us with an actionable, five-pillar framework to advance this agenda. It calls on us to: count women, study women, care for women, include all women, and invest in women.

Allow me to reflect on these pillars as they pertain to our context in Nigeria, and to the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s work.

First, we must count women. The underrepresentation of women in clinical research, health surveillance, and national datasets distorts our understanding and diminishes our response. In Nigeria, we have pioneered the routine collection of sex-disaggregated data through our Mamacare360 programme, providing insight into real-time health indicators at the frontline. The Women’s Health Impact Tracking platform offers a promising model to deepen this, and I call on Nigerian and African governments to adopt and localise it as a tool for informed action.

Second, we must study women. Too many health conditions, ranging from endometriosis and fibroids to maternal hypertensive disorders, are either poorly understood or wrongly assumed to be benign, especially for women of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups. Through our partnerships with global and local academic institutions and hospitals, such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital  WBFA contributes to the evidence base on maternal health, lactation, neonatal outcomes, and behavioural change. As the Blueprint rightly highlights, nine key conditions alone account for over a third of the women’s health gap. We must ensure that research funding in Nigeria reflects this burden, and that our medical curricula integrate women’s biology across all life stages.

Third, we must care for women. This means not only training providers in gender-sensitive diagnostics and respectful maternity care, but also designing health systems around the real needs of women. At WBFA, we have trained hundreds of midwives and frontline healthcare workers in respectful, rights-based care. Our facilities integrate antenatal education with hygiene interventions such as Teach Clean and WASH improvements, because we understand that dignity in childbirth cannot be achieved without clean water, privacy, and safety.

Fourth, we must include all women. Health equity in Nigeria must mean reaching adolescent girls navigating puberty, women with disabilities, those displaced by conflict, and those in remote or peri-urban areas. Our Digital Midwifery Platform ensures that no woman is left behind due to geography or stigma, offering support through WhatsApp and community health champions, and WBFA midwives and nurses work in schools providing Personal, Social, Health and Economic education to young girls especially, creating safe and brave spaces. 

And finally, we must invest in women. The World Economic Forum estimates that funding the research, education, and care systems required to close the gap could generate over $500 billion in direct market opportunity globally. In Nigeria, investing in women’s health will boost productivity, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and enable more women to participate meaningfully in the economy. Every naira spent on maternal and newborn health returns tenfold in national development.

Colleagues and friends, Nigeria need not wait for permission to lead. From Gombe to Cross River, we have seen what is possible when communities are engaged, data is respected, and care is delivered with compassion. With our young population, health innovation ecosystem, and active civil society, we are well-positioned to close this gap from the bottom up and top down alike.

Let us remember that every missed opportunity in women’s health is not just a woman’s loss, it is society’s loss. Conversely, every advance in women’s health brings gains across education, economic development, environmental sustainability, and peace.

So let this roundtable not be merely a convening. Let it be a covenant. A commitment to act, to align, and to accelerate the closing of the women’s health gap,  not by 2040, but starting today.

For in the words of the Nigerian proverb, “When the root is deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”

Let us deepen our roots, in evidence, in empathy, and in equity, and rise together to build a future where every woman, everywhere, can live not just longer, but healthier and more empowered lives.

Thank you.

 

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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.

WBFA, FMOH, and NPHCDA Partnership on PHRs and MCH Handbook

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.

WBFA and Reckitt Partnership: Mamacare360, DHQ PSHE, WASH in HCFs, Schools, and Communities

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.

Mamacare+NLift (Malnutrition, IFA Supplementation, and Family Planning)

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.

Mamacare360 NICUPlus – Lactation and Breastfeeding Support

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.

Alive and Thrive (MIYCF – Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Feeding)

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.

WBFA and GE Healthcare Partnership – Empowering Midwives with Ultrasound Training

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.

WBFA Cross River Refugee Program – Support for UNHCR

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. ​

WBFA-Nutrition International LOORS-Zinc Sokoto Kano Program

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.

Goodwill Statement delivered at the Global Health Workforce Programme Nigeria Sharing & Learning Event:

Esteemed Ministers, Distinguished Guests, Healthcare Leaders, Partners, and Advocates,

Good morning. As the Founder & President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, it is an honour to stand before you today at this pivotal Sharing and Learning Event of the Global Health Workforce Programme. I extend my gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Global Health Partnerships, Ducit Blue Solutions, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for their leadership in strengthening the health workforce in Nigeria.

The Global Health Workforce Programme is a transformative initiative designed to optimise, build, and strengthen the health workforce, supporting more resilient health systems post-pandemic and advancing progress towards Universal Health Coverage in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3. Through its Health Partnership Initiative, GHWP fosters cross-border learning and capacity strengthening, ensuring that health professionals are well-equipped to provide high-quality care where it is needed most.

A critical pillar of this initiative is the strengthening of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care. Nigeria has one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world, with a maternal mortality ratio of over 800 deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 33 per 1,000 live births. These numbers highlight the urgency of our mission—to equip our healthcare workforce with the skills and resources necessary to save lives.

Our ongoing partnership between the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa in advancing training for resident doctors in Nigeria is already demonstrating tangible impact. Through GHWP, we have launched the Advanced Obstetric Surgical Skills competency-based training programme, integrated into the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria residency curriculum. This initiative is not just about training; it is about ensuring sustainability through Centres of Excellence in Lagos and Abuja, where faculty members are empowered to cascade knowledge and skills to obstetricians and gynaecologists for many future generations to come.

The AOSS training, structured as a 3-day intensive programme followed by a 2-day Training of Trainers module, provides resident doctors with hands-on experience in life-saving procedures such as emergency caesarean sections, postpartum haemorrhage management, and neonatal resuscitation. These skills are further reinforced through simulation-based learning and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, ensuring competence and confidence in managing obstetric emergencies.

To our frontline healthcare workers here today, you are the heart of this effort. Your dedication to improving maternal and newborn care will have a lasting impact on families and communities across Nigeria. To our government and development partners, let us commit to ensuring that every trained doctor, midwife, and nurse has the resources and institutional support they need to sustain and scale up this progress.

Looking ahead, the success of this programme depends on sustained investment, national policy integration, and continued collaboration. We must ensure that the skills being imparted today translate into systemic improvements that endure long beyond this initiative. The GHWP has laid the foundation, but it is up to all of us to build upon it.

Once again, I extend my sincere appreciation to our partners and stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce. May this event serve as a catalyst for deeper collaboration, knowledge exchange, and lasting change in our healthcare system.

Thank you.