Seven Groups Commit $65m to Cut Maternal and Newborn Deaths in Nigeria

Seven private sector and charity groups have pledged over $65 million to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in Nigeria.

This commitment was announced on Wednesday during the 2026 Joint Annual Review of the health sector in Abuja. The funds are aimed at supporting efforts in 172 local government areas (LGAs) that are known for high rates of maternal deaths.

A statement released after the event said the groups submitted letters of intent under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) Private Sector Compact. This is a government-led plan to coordinate investments and technical support for maternal and newborn healthcare.

The seven groups involved are DP World, Bayer, UNICEF, dsm-firmenich, Nestlé Nutrition Institute, Roche, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

Their contributions will include financial help, medical supplies, technical skills, supply chain support, and other services meant to fill gaps in maternal and newborn healthcare delivery.

This announcement comes as Nigeria continues to face a high number of preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Estimates from the statement reveal that about 40,000 women and 300,000 newborns die each year in Nigeria. This is more than 100 maternal deaths and 800 newborn deaths every day.

These numbers highlight ongoing issues with access to skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric services, essential medicines, and timely referrals, especially in underserved areas.

MAMII started in November 2024 and focuses on 172 LGAs across 33 states. These areas account for more than half of Nigeria’s maternal deaths, according to the programme’s analysis.

The initiative aims to improve emergency obstetric and newborn care, strengthen referral systems, provide emergency transport, and increase access to essential medical supplies and trained health workers.

At the event, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate said reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths is a priority for the nation.

"Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and our Sector-Wide Approach, we are bringing federal and state governments, the private sector, and development partners together around a common national plan. We focus especially on the 172 local government areas with the highest maternal mortality rates," Mr Pate said.

He called the commitments a vital step towards improving healthcare delivery and a sign of confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda.

"We must ensure that every commitment aligns with our national priorities, every investment is accounted for, and every intervention leads to real improvements in the lives of Nigerian women and children," he added.

Uche Amaonwu, the Nigeria Country Director of the Gates Foundation, said the partnership will help coordinate resources and expertise to reduce preventable deaths.

Mr Amaonwu mentioned that the burden of maternal mortality affects many Nigerian families.

"The MAMII compact focuses on this challenge, aligning public, private, and philanthropic efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths," he stated.

He said the foundation is working with partners, including MSD for Mothers, MTN Group Foundation, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, to improve maternal and newborn healthcare.

Likewise, MTN Foundation Executive Director Odunayo Sanya said the organisation will support this initiative through connectivity, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions.

"MTN believes technology is most valuable when it removes real barriers to essential services," she said.

Ms Sanya added that this partnership will provide women, health workers, and healthcare facilities with information and digital tools to enhance maternal health outcomes.

Shyam Bishen, Head of the Centre for Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum, said the private sector can offer more than just financial support.

Mr Bishen explained that businesses can provide products, technology, supply chains, and expertise needed to improve healthcare delivery, especially in underserved communities.

Jacquelyn Caglia, Executive Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at MSD for Mothers, said the organisation will invest in the Training for Emergency Action, Management and Workflows in Midwifery, Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (TEAM OB/NEO).

This programme is designed to equip health workers with skills to handle life-threatening complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care.

Ms Caglia noted that the company has spent 15 years supporting efforts to reduce maternal deaths, including in Nigeria, through its MSD for Mothers initiative.

"By investing in TEAM OB/NEO as part of the MAMII Compact, we show our commitment to Nigeria and to collaborating with other private sector partners to pool resources, expertise, and innovation in line with the national effort to improve access to quality maternity care services for women across Nigeria," she said.

The government also introduced a digital platform to monitor contributions under the MAMII Private Sector Compact.

This platform, developed through the SWAp Coordination Office, is meant to show the geographical spread of interventions, partner contributions, and remaining healthcare gaps across participating states and LGAs.

It aims to prevent donor-funded projects from concentrating in some areas while leaving others underserved. However, the platform is still in the prototype stage, with operational and reporting arrangements not yet finalised.

Dayo Adeyanju, MAMII National Lead at the SWAp Coordination Office, said the platform will help improve coordination and investment decisions.

"It clearly shows where the gaps are and which delivery partners are supporting which LGAs," Mr Adeyanju said.

He added that the platform will help avoid duplicating efforts and improve resource allocation, with information expected to support partner decisions from December 2026.

The government said the next phase of the Compact will involve setting implementation milestones, deploying resources to priority areas, and monitoring progress on maternal and newborn health outcomes.