Nigeria expands community‑led programmes to cut maternal and child deaths

The Sokoto State government has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality by mobilising community leaders across all 244 wards. A one‑day orientation for Ward Development Committee members, supported by the EU‑funded SARAH programme, will train leaders to promote antenatal care, safe childbirth, routine immunisation and adolescent reproductive health.

In Ondo State, the NGO Jhpiego Global has partnered with the state government to tackle postpartum haemorrhage and improve maternal outcomes. The partnership includes training health workers, supplying essential medicines, renovating facilities and expanding the state’s health‑insurance scheme to cover indigent women, aiming to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent access to care.