As part of ongoing efforts to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, SCIDaR joined partners from 10–12 February 2026 for a series of project inception meetings marking the start of the 10 Million Safer Births Project, a five-year, multi-country initiative under the patronage of Queen Mary of Denmark. The project is funded by the Maternity Fund, aimed at accelerating safer births across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
The 10 Million Safer Births Project, is a five-year, multi-country initiative to accelerate progress toward safer pregnancies and childbirth across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Maternal health stakeholders convened in Abuja to align on the strategic direction, technical priorities, and implementation approach for the 10 Million Safer Births Project. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, UNFPA, and other partners reflected on Nigeria’s maternal and newborn health landscape, discussing persistent challenges such as workforce gaps, financing constraints, and service delivery bottlenecks, while identifying opportunities for the project to reinforce national priorities. Conversations also emphasized the importance of strong advocacy and partnerships in sustaining progress throughout the initiative’s life cycle.
Broader consultations brought together technical and institutional stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives to review evidence on maternal and newborn mortality, identify priority gaps, and explore practical solutions — including strengthening midwifery models of care, enhancing clinical training, and leveraging digital tools such as the Safe Delivery+ App to support frontline providers.
Through working sessions, partners translated discussions into clear actions by refining the Nigeria workplan, clarifying roles, and agreeing that the next steps will focus on coordinated implementation across federal and state levels. SCIDaR remains committed to collaborating closely with government and partners to drive measurable progress toward safer births and improved outcomes for mothers and newborns.
