In a decisive step to improve safer motherhood and newborn survival, the Cross River State Government has launched a high-level task force under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), reaffirming its strong commitment to saving the lives of women and children across the state.

The launch marked the culmination of a five-day MAMII activation workshop recently held in Calabar, which gathered key stakeholders in the health sector, development partners, and community representatives. The workshop developed a sustainable, community-driven framework aimed at significantly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths across the state.

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jonah Offor, described the MAMII Taskforce as a specialised team of experts tasked with turning the outcomes of the week-long engagement into measurable results.

Dr. Offor explained that the task force includes experienced consultants, specialists, and senior policymakers from across the state’s health system working together to achieve meaningful results. He reaffirmed the Otu-led administration’s commitment to reducing maternal and newborn deaths by at least 30 per cent by 2030, in accordance with national and global health targets.

“The task before us is clear,” Dr. Offor stated. “What we have done over the past five days is not just another workshop; it marks the beginning of a transformation. We have built a robust framework that will guide us toward a 30 per cent reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths by 2030. By God’s grace, we will deliver on this mandate.”

Representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Alexander Dachung commended the Cross River State Government for its visionary leadership and proactive engagement in improving maternal and child health outcomes.

He noted that the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has prioritised maternal and newborn survival as a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The health and well-being of mothers and newborns are central to national development,” Dr. Dachung said. “Through the MAMII initiative, we are deploying innovative, high-impact interventions to crush maternal and neonatal mortality across the country.”

He explained that MAMII represents a multi-sectoral, people-centred approach designed to eliminate systemic barriers, mobilise communities, and promote sustainable practices that safeguard the health of mothers and infants.

“This initiative is not just about service delivery,” he added. “It is about building trust, empowering communities with knowledge, and ensuring that every family has the opportunity to thrive.”

Dr. Dachung reaffirmed the Federal Ministry’s commitment to providing policy leadership, technical coordination, and inter-sectoral collaboration with partners, civil society, and state governments. He lauded Cross River’s strong community participation, stressing that local ownership remains the cornerstone of MAMII’s success.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, described MAMII as a transformative, life-saving intervention aligned with both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Governor Bassey Otu’s People-First Agenda.

She said the vision of MAMII is to ensure that every pregnant woman experiences a safe pregnancy and delivery without complications.

Dr. Otu highlighted Nigeria’s troubling statistics, 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 41 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births, and explained that MAMII targets reductions to below 70 and 12 deaths, respectively, by 2030, in line with SDG targets 3.1 and 3.2.

She revealed that MAMII is being implemented nationwide, with a focus on local government areas with the highest mortality rates. In Cross River, Abi Local Government Area was selected as the pilot site based on DHIS-2 data indicating elevated maternal and newborn deaths.

“That is why we are starting this programme there,” she said.

The CRSPHCDA boss identified five major causes of preventable deaths, collectively known as the “five delays”: delay in seeking care, delay in reaching care, delay in receiving care, delay in collaboration, and delay in decision-making.

“Everything about MAMII is focused on eliminating these delays,” she emphasised. “If we can remove them, we will drastically reduce maternal and newborn deaths in our communities.”

Dr. Otu expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Tinubu, and Governor Bassey Otu for their unwavering support. She noted that MAMII aligns perfectly with the administration’s People-First governance philosophy, which places citizens’ welfare at the heart of policy implementation.

She urged health professionals, development partners, civil society organisations, and traditional leaders to collaborate with the government to fully achieve MAMII’s objectives.

“By God’s grace, we will achieve our goals and give our mothers and babies a safer tomorrow,” she concluded.

The event culminated in the formal inauguration of the Cross River State MAMII Taskforce, comprising medical experts, policymakers, and representatives of key health institutions. Members pledged to drive the implementation of the state’s maternal and neonatal mortality reduction plan with transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.

Representing the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Pharm. Muhammed Muhammed commended the state’s strong commitment to maternal health reforms and innovative strategies aimed at improving care quality.

“Since my arrival, I have received several commendations about your work,” he said. “Please keep up the good work in improving the quality of care for our mothers and children.”

He emphasised that while national health indicators still pose challenges, collaboration, innovation, and commitment will drive sustainable change.

“As we continue our mission, let us celebrate the progress made in strengthening human resources and upgrading primary healthcare infrastructure, while recognising that the journey ahead demands sustained dedication,” he urged.

Representing the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Cross River State, Dr. Gloria Archibong reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to continue supporting the state government in ensuring the success of the MAMII programme.

We once again pledge our unflinching support and continued technical backing to the Cross River State Government,” she said. “We will remain on the ground to partner with the government in whatever capacity they require so that, at the end of the day, the objectives of this initiative will be achieved.”

Dr. Archibong commended all stakeholders for their steadfast commitment to safeguarding maternal and child health and wished the state a successful implementation.

The Cross River MAMII Taskforce is chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, with the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jonah Offor, and Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, Chief Godwin Iyala, Mr. Casmir Ugbong, Christopher Ushuasung, Edith Ekworm, Mrs. Elizabeth Unawu, Mr. Bassey Etim, Dr. Stephen Agbor, Mrs. Atim Asuquo Ekpo, Mr. Raymond Abugieye, Mrs. Christiana Iwara, Dr. Ogonna Nwankwo, Mr. Okechukwu Christian, Mr. John Oden, Dr. Rebecca Yewande Olatunde, Pharm. Sunday Ezong, Mrs. Ekaette Ekpenyong, and a representative from UNFPA as members.