In a bid to combat maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria’s northeast, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 3,700 Mama kits to pregnant women in Borno State.
The donation was officially announced on Thursday by Francis Busiku, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Maiduguri, during the launch of the distribution exercise targeting 13 priority local government areas under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMMI).
Busiku highlighted the urgency of the intervention, citing alarming maternal health statistics in the state.
“Borno remains one of the states contributing significantly to maternal and newborn deaths in Nigeria. To put it clearly — every eight minutes, a woman dies while giving birth. These are not just figures. They are mothers, daughters, and future leaders lost to preventable complications,” he said.
The Mama kits, pre-packed with essential supplies for clean and safe deliveries, aim to address some of the underlying challenges faced by expectant mothers, especially in underserved and conflict-affected areas.
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“This initiative reflects UNICEF’s firm commitment to protect women and children. Every safe delivery is a step toward securing a better future for families and communities,” Busiku added.
He further called on government authorities, traditional leaders, civil society groups, and development partners to scale up support for the MAMMI programme.
“Together, we can change the narrative. Every mother saved is a future secured, and every child delivered safely is a promise kept,” he said.
The intervention comes amid ongoing efforts by humanitarian agencies and health authorities to improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria’s northeast, a region long burdened by insurgency and weak health infrastructure.