As a partner in the SMGL programme, CHEDRES implemented a range of activities to improve maternal health outcomes, including:
Maternal health is a crucial component of global public health, particularly in developing nations where maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high. Nigeria, one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, has been the focus of several international interventions aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. One such initiative, Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL), implemented by USAID Pathfinder International, sought to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality through strengthened healthcare systems and increased community engagement. This article explores the impact of SMGL in Cross River State, Nigeria, with a particular focus on the role of CHEDRES in community mobilization.
State Of Maternal Health In Nigeria
Nigeria accounts for nearly 20% of global maternal deaths, with an estimated 814 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (WHO, 2021). Contributing factors include inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortage of skilled birth attendants, socio-cultural barriers, and limited access to antenatal and emergency obstetric care (National Population Commission, 2018). The Abuja Declaration (2001) called for African governments to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to healthcare; however, Nigeria has consistently fallen short of this commitment (African Union, 2001).
SMGL Initiative In Cross River State
Launched in 2012, the Saving Mothers, Giving Life initiative aimed to reduce maternal mortality by improving access to quality maternal healthcare services. The programme was implemented in Cross River State between 2016 and 2018, with CHEDRES playing a key role in community mobilization efforts across seven LGAs—Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, and Odukpani.
CHEDRES’ Contributions To SMGL Initiative
As a partner in the SMGL programme, CHEDRES implemented a range of activities to improve maternal health outcomes, including:
Community Sensitization and Education: Conducting awareness campaigns on the importance of antenatal care (ANC), facility-based delivery, and family planning.
Training Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs): Providing TBAs with life-saving skills to ensure safer deliveries and timely referrals.
Strengthening Health Facility Linkages: Establishing referral systems between communities and healthcare facilities.
Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Engaging policymakers to increase funding for maternal healthcare.
Demand Generation and Referrals: Mobilizing women to utilize ANC, skilled delivery, and family planning services through referrals.
Training and Mobilization of Community Volunteers: Equipping community volunteers to conduct monthly outreach programs to promote maternal and newborn healthcare services.
Impact Of The SMGL Initiative
The implementation of SMGL in Cross River State yielded significant improvements in maternal health indicators:
A 40% reduction in maternal mortality in intervention areas (Pathfinder International, 2019).
A 30% increase in facility-based deliveries, reducing complications associated with home births.
Strengthened healthcare systems through capacity-building programs for midwives, nurses, and community health workers.
Enhanced demand for ANC and family planning services due to community outreach efforts.
Challenges And Lessons Learned
Despite its successes, the initiative faced several challenges:
Infrastructural Deficiencies: Limited availability of well-equipped healthcare facilities.
Cultural Barriers: Resistance to facility-based deliveries among certain communities.
Sustainability Concerns: Ensuring continued funding and government commitment beyond the programme period.
Key lessons learned from the SMGL initiative emphasize the importance of community participation, multi-sectoral collaboration, and strong policy advocacy in achieving long-term maternal health improvements.
Conclusion
Safe motherhood is an essential goal for global health, and the SMGL initiative in Cross River State stands as a testament to the effectiveness of community-driven interventions. CHEDRES’ role in mobilizing local communities significantly contributed to the program’s success, reinforcing the need for sustained investment in maternal healthcare. As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once stated, “When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.” Nigeria must continue to prioritize maternal health by increasing healthcare funding, improving infrastructure, and fostering community engagement to achieve lasting progress.
References
African Union. (2001). Abuja Declaration on Health. https://au.int/en/decisions-declarations/abuja-declaration-healt
National Population Commission. (2018). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR359/FR359.pdf
Pathfinder International. (2019). Saving Mothers, Giving Life: Final Report. https://www.pathfinder.org/publications/smgl-final-report
World Health Organization. (2021). Maternal Mortality. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
Felix Ukam writes from Calabar, he is the Executive Director, Centre for Healthworks, Development and Research Initiative, CHEDRES, a nongovernmental organization based in Cross River State, Nigeria.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Felix Ukam, and do not represent the opinion of TheInvestigator or any other organization the author works for/with.