Fatima Yakubu remembers the day she lost her sister in childbirth as if it were yesterday. Her sister, Amina, had laboured for hours at home in a remote village in Gombe before neighbours finally rushed her to the nearest health centre too late. Amina died giving birth to a baby who never took a breath.
Stories like Amina’s are far too common, as mothers and their newborns struggle to survive preventable complications due to limited access to timely and quality healthcare and social injustice.
Now, a new wave of hope is rising.
It is stories like Amina’s that have given renewed urgency to Gombe State’s commitment to tackling maternal and newborn deaths. On Monday, the Gombe State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and development partners, commenced the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) with a Co-Creation Workshop and Stakeholder Engagement Meeting A data-driven response to the alarming rates of maternal and newborn deaths.
The training event brought together state officials, healthcare professionals, community leaders, religious and traditional institutions, civil society actors and partners all determined to rewrite the narrative of loss with one of hope and survival.
“This is not just a workshop. It is a call to action,” declared Dr. Habu Dahiru, Gombe State Commissioner for Health, in his keynote address. “Every maternal death is one too many. We must all work together to prevent the next one.”
Dahiru stressed that Gombe is adopting the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to ensure coordinated responses. He pointed to ongoing government investments: two revitalised Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in every LGA and the upgrade of general hospitals in each senatorial district to specialist level.
The National MAMII Coordinator, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, painted a sobering picture. “Every two minutes, a woman dies from pregnancy-related complications. Eight LGAs in Gombe are among the top 172 high-burden areas for maternal deaths in Nigeria,” he said. “But this initiative is about more than numbers. It’s about mothers, daughters, wives—whose lives we can and must save.”
He outlined MAMII’s five strategic pillars, including strengthening emergency obstetric care and improving access through schemes like SEMSAS and RESMAT, designed to overcome transportation and financial barriers.
“Ending maternal mortality is a collective responsibility. It goes beyond health workers it requires the active support of communities to tackle the root causes, including social injustice and inequality.”
Adeyanju emphasised the importance of tracking every pregnancy, enhancing accountability, and co-creating solutions with communities not imposing them. “This isn’t just another project; it’s Nigeria’s national strategy to end maternal and child deaths,” he said.
As the workshop unfolded, voices from across Gombe’s diverse communities echoed their support
Alhaji Yahaya Hammari, a respected traditional leader, committed to mobilising village heads to educate men about the importance of antenatal care. “Our women should not die bringing life into this world,” he said.
Ronas Saleh, Director Nursing Services, called for empowering women with information and access to quality care. “It’s time for young people to stand up for maternal health in our communities,” he said.
Dr Suraj Abdulkarim, Gombe State SWAp Coordinator, said the objectives of the workshop went beyond presentations. “We want to understand the real challenges on the ground through deep-dive community visits and work with local actors to develop tailored strategies,” he explained.
He highlighted the need for cross-sectoral collaboration. “Health cannot do this alone. Education, women’s affairs, media, religious leaders—we all must be part of the solution.”
As Gombe State activates MAMII, the resolve is clear: no woman should die giving life, and every newborn deserves a chance to live.
