Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health invited the Safer Births Consortium to share the results from the Safer Births Bundle of Care implementation in Tanzania, and to explore the possibility of bringing the program to Nigeria.
Following a meeting at the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in May 2023 between a delegation from the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Safer Births Consortium, the FMoH convened a subsequent day-long meeting in November 2023 to discuss the potential implementation of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program to Nigeria.
Objectives of the meeting
- Introduce Maternal and Newborn Health Stakeholders in Nigeria to the Safer Births Bundle of Care program and its results so far in Tanzania
- Explore potential for implementation of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program in Nigeria
- Based upon potential and interest, develop plans and next steps for implementation
The meeting was attended by over 40 participants, including relevant governmental department heads, professional associations, key global funders, NGOs, regulatory bodies and UN organizations.
Some of the highlights from the meeting included presentations by Dr Benjamin Kamala and Dr Paschal Mdoe – members of the Safer Births Consortium, based at founding implementation institution Haydon Lutheran Hospital – on the results and lessons learnt from Phase 1 of the Safer Births Bundle of Care implementation in Tanzania. Dr Benjamin and Dr Paschal were able to share remarkable results from the data gained so far, including that the program has reduced maternal mortality by more than 50%. Final results from phase 1 are expected to be published in early 2024.
Delegates of the meeting also heard from the Federal Ministry of Health who presented the national ambitions and targets for maternal and newborn mortality, including ideas around how the Safer Births Bundle of Care program could be integrated into the existing plans. There was then a chance to work as groups, generating ideas for how to engage state-level stakeholders and where to start an implementation.
The following day, the Safer Births team were granted an audience with the newly appointed Honorable Minister of Health of Nigeria, Mohammed Ali Pate. Directors who had attended the meeting the day before had reported back to Minister Pate, prompting enthusiasm from him about the potential for Safer Births Bundle of Care in Nigeria.
“We are proud of what the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has achieved and is set to continue achieving in Tanzania. The program is making a difference to mothers and babies in five regions in our country, but this opportunity to present to stakeholders in Nigeria signals the global potential of Safer Births Bundle of Care. This is exciting with the potential for significant impact.”
Dr Benjamin Kamala, Principal Investigator of the Safer Births Consortium and Doctor at Haydom Lutheran Hospital
“Being invited to meet with the FMoH and key stakeholders signals real intent on the part of the Nigerian government. Laerdal is very positive about the possibility of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program being implemented in Nigeria. We know this program is scalable, cost-effective and most importantly that it can make significant impact on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.”
Tore Laerdal, Founder of Laerdal Global Health
The visit to Nigeria from the Safer Births team comes at a time when the government and partners are actively setting plans and aligning for the period ahead. Moving forwards, there are plans for a Nigerian delegation to visit settings where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has been implemented in Tanzania. There will also be discussions with partners to explore how to best integrate the program into ongoing and upcoming programming in Nigeria.
Learn more about the success of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program in Tanzania here.