Nigeria is on track to establish the Maternal Mortality Action (MAMA) Fund, utilizing a $500 million loan from the World Bank. This initiative aims to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and contribute to the country’s broader human capital development goals. The fund, with an allocation of $15 million, is designed to enhance primary healthcare services across Nigeria, with a particular focus on serving rural and underserved populations.
Targeted Interventions
The MAMA Fund will specifically support innovative efforts, both in the public and private sectors, aimed at improving maternal and child health interventions. These interventions will address crucial areas, such as midwifery, emergency obstetric and newborn care, maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response, obstetric morbidities, and the integration of digital capabilities and technologies.
Digital Transformation and Capacity Enhancement
In addition to the MAMA Fund, the program also includes a $15 million allocation toward establishing a federated digital-in-health enterprise architecture, intending to drive a robust digital transformation within Nigeria’s health sector. This initiative aims to digitize critical health information systems. Furthermore, a $2.5 million budget is designated for the creation of a platform for coordinated technical assistance, with the goal of enhancing healthcare interventions’ capacity and sustainability throughout the country.
Strengthening Health Systems
A significant aspect of the program concentrates on reinforcing the strategic purchasing and regulatory functions of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), with a dedicated $10 million allocation. Furthermore, additional focal points involve a $5 million investment in implementing the Public Health Fellows Program, engaging young Nigerian fellows across all 774 local government areas.
Independent Verification and Reporting
The program underlines the importance of independent verification of its outcomes, allocating $7.5 million for this purpose. This will involve the hire of an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) to conduct thorough assessments of the program’s results and provide credible analysis of the performance of both state and federal governments. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on developing annual state of health reports and performance rankings, supported by a budget of $2.5 million.