The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Public Health, Uju-Rochas Anwukah, has called for increased prioritization and funding of health research by state governments to address the high rates of maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria. Speaking at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Grand Challenges Nigeria Annual Meeting, Anwukah emphasized the need for practical application of research findings to enhance healthcare delivery.
During the meeting, stakeholders evaluated healthcare innovations and discussed strategies for scaling successful interventions. Anwukah highlighted the critical role of governmental commitment to research, urging for appropriate support and funding to sustain initiatives beyond their initial phases. She noted that previous promising ideas often failed to translate into actionable solutions.
Ten Nigerian-led projects have received seed funding of up to N60 million each from Grand Challenges Nigeria, which supports local health innovations. Anwukah expressed her belief that investment in the health of mothers and newborns is fundamental to the country’s development and productivity. She cautioned that interventions reliant solely on donor financing without sustainable support are not true successes.
Other officials, including Alem Hadera Abay from the Gates Foundation, reiterated the urgency of addressing maternal and child health, given Nigeria’s ongoing challenges in these areas despite some improvements in child health indicators. Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology called for enhanced collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure research translates into practical health solutions.
Dr. Abdulateef O.T. Shittu, from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, emphasized the importance of adapting innovations to fit the realities of Nigeria’s healthcare system. He stressed that identifying effective innovations and partnering with capable institutions for implementation is vital for their success.
In conclusion, as the annual meeting concluded, attendees were reminded of the importance of delivering on commitments made and transforming discussions into tangible results to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in Nigeria.
