Mtn foundation partners with Nigerian government to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria

MTN Foundation and JNC International in partnership with the Nigeria Government unveiled the Maternal Ward Support Project in six geo-political zones. The purpose for this partnership is to enhance the efforts of the government in reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria. The initiative will contribute to creating unhindered access to affordable health care facilities/services provided by skilled healthcare professionals particularly for the safety of pregnant women and their children.


According to the Commissioner of Niger State, Dr. Mustapha Jibrin who quoted Nelson Mandela, “It looks impossible until it was done” said that “MTN Foundation as usual had been engaging in some impossible tasks in Nigeria and getting it all done and we thank them for being part of this project”.

According to Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, the recent UNICEF statistic shows that, “every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five year olds and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world.”

To address this issue, mothers and their children are set to enjoy the best of health care as the state ministries of health across the country collaborates with MTN Foundation and JNC International to deliver these services to change the narrative about Nigeria.

Present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were Commissioners of Health from the six pivotal states of Abia, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Oyo and Sokoto.

The first phase will involve renovating and equipping maternal wards in at least 24 hospitals across the six states. Each maternal ward would be equipped with top range equipments including: 20 hospital beds with cardiac rest; 20 standard hospital mattresses; 20 standard hospital bed pillows; 10 four-way foldable ward screens; 20 metal bedside cupboards; 20 visitors’ chairs; 10 drip stands; 20 hydraulic over-bed tables; 10 height adjustable baby cots and 2 Carl Novel baby incubators.

Below are pictures from the press conference and MOU signing ceremony held in Lagos...