Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, via its Development Research and Projects, in collaboration with the Society for Gynaecologists and Obstetrics in Nigeria (SOGON), has commenced a three-year advocacy intervention project to reduce high rate of maternal and neonatal deaths in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the goal of the partnership is to enhance maternal health outcomes by providing capacity-building support, advocacy and improved care, especially at the primary healthcare level.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop on leadership and management development training for SOGON national and subnational leadership in Abuja, National President of SOGON, Dr. Habib Sadaukia, said that the rising cases of maternal and neonatal health needs utmost urgency because Nigeria has become a global leader in maternal mortality rates.

Sadaukia observed that the goal of the project is to conduct thorough research in primary and secondary health facilities across Nigeria. He noted that the project would also be in comparison with five other countries to identify gaps and opportunities for Nigeria to adopt and implement clinical interventions that can effectively reduce maternal mortality rates.

He explained that the project would serve as the leading voice for women’s health in Nigeria by scaling up evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage with tranexamic acid and preeclampsia/eclampsia with magnesium sulphate.

According to him, the partnership would enable SOGON to address competing priorities needed to improve women’s health and well being in Nigeria, as proposed practice changes are critical to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.

He said: “SOGON aims to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, sustaining national efforts through uptake of interventions effectively championed by leaders at the forefront of healthcare delivery.

“Nigeria is one of six national member societies, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), Kenya and Pakistan.”

In her presentation, the Executive Director of the Development Research and Projects Centre, Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, stated that the alarming rate of maternal deaths in the country couldn’t be ignored, adding that the partnership was established to collaborate and address worrisome surge in maternal mortality in Nigeria.

She noted that the initiative would help equip SOGON with necessary resources to effectively implement the project and advocate to stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels.