Nigeria faces a N720 billion annual funding gap in maternal health, stakeholders have warned, saying the shortfall threatens efforts to reduce the country’s high rate of maternal and newborn deaths even as the country continues to record one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.
They noted that chronic underfunding, weak budget implementation and poor accountability continue to undermine efforts to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate.
The concerns were raised during a maternal health roundtable organised by Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja with the theme, “Investing in Mothers: Aligning Finance, Policy and Innovation for Improved Maternal Outcomes.”
Dayo Adeyanju, the National Lead of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), presenting the funding outlook, said the National Health Sector Annual Operational Plan (AOP), covering the Federal Government, the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), is estimated to cost N3.68 trillion.
According to him, development partners are expected to provide N1.25 trillion, while government funding stands at N1.70 trillion, leaving a financing gap of about N720 billion that could hamper implementation of key maternal and newborn health interventions.
