(DDM) – Delta State has taken decisive steps to confront the alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality, unveiling a comprehensive healthcare strategy designed to save the lives of mothers and newborns across the state.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the effort was officially launched during a five-day workshop in Asaba, the state capital, under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives Project (MAMII).
The event brought together health experts, development partners, and government officials who pledged collective action toward reversing preventable deaths.
Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Delta’s Commissioner for Health, disclosed that the state has set ambitious targets over the next three years.
According to him, the government intends to increase skilled birth attendance by 60 percent while reducing maternal and infant deaths by at least 30 percent within the same period.
Onojaeme stressed that no woman should lose her life while giving birth, and no child should be denied the right to survive infancy.
He explained that the MAMII project is structured to strengthen the health system, improve access to skilled health workers, and ensure rural and urban communities benefit equally from government interventions.
Stakeholders at the workshop identified the “five delays” model as a critical framework for tackling maternal and neonatal deaths.
The delays include the failure to recognize danger signs, late decision-making in seeking care, poor transportation to health facilities, inadequate availability of services, and delays in receiving prompt treatment upon arrival.
Health officials and experts agreed that addressing these challenges requires multi-sector collaboration, increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Civil society groups and professional associations present at the workshop highlighted the need for training more midwives, equipping rural hospitals, and adopting community-based approaches to health education.
The government also promised to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and periodic review of progress to keep the initiative on track.
Background reports indicate that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, accounting for nearly 20 percent of global maternal deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Infant mortality also remains a major challenge, particularly in underserved rural communities where lack of skilled health workers and poor infrastructure contribute significantly to child deaths.
In Delta State, government data suggests that several local government areas record above-average maternal and infant mortality rates, often linked to poverty, poor antenatal care, and limited access to emergency services.
The new MAMII project seeks to change this narrative by aligning Delta’s health system with global best practices, while ensuring that no family is left behind in the fight to save mothers and children.
As the initiative takes off, health advocates believe the project will not only save lives but also boost public confidence in the state’s healthcare delivery system.
Stakeholders emphasized that sustained political will, transparent funding, and strong community engagement will determine whether Delta achieves its ambitious targets.
For families across the state, the promise of safer deliveries and healthier newborns is a welcome development that could reshape maternal and child health outcomes for generations.
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