Health
Foundation seeks stronger govt, stakeholder partnerships to curb maternal mortality
Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis
The founder of Vickyheldan Empowerment Foundation, Victory Njoku, on Thursday called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, stakeholders, and non-governmental organisations to tackle rising maternal mortality and improve women’s healthcare across Nigeria.
Njoku made the call at the 2026 edition of the Her Health, Her Power Conference in Abuja.
According to her, maternal mortality remains a major concern, stressing that partnerships between government and civil society groups are critical to expanding healthcare awareness and access for women.
“I will tell you something from the statistics we already have. The maternal death rate is high. We are urging the government to create a synergetic relationship with stakeholders and non-governmental organisations to drive this message forward.
“For healthcare in Africa, it’s quite unfortunate that we are where we are right now. The government can’t do much. In areas where some government agencies cannot go, many NGOs reach out to these people. They know them and have the statistics of these individuals.
“That’s why we are calling on partners and non-governmental organizations to create a synergetic relationship that will propel the growth and awareness of the healthcare system, especially when it comes to women,” she said.
Njoku also highlighted the growing concerns around women’s mental health, domestic violence and other wellness-related challenges, noting that such issues often receive inadequate attention.
“There’s a whole lot going on with women, especially on the problem of mental wellness. We don’t discuss that much. But it is very important. Sometimes we are stressed and drained out. But they still want us to show up because that is what the world expects us to do.
“This is what we’ll be discussing as well. We’re having doctors and specialists to discuss mental health, domestic violence and issues that actually affect the health and wellness of women,” she added.
She further urged policymakers, lawmakers and other stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at improving women’s health outcomes, expressing optimism that such collaborations could eventually lead to legislative backing.
“The message here is that we have to collaborate, one way or the other. Collaboration is key. We are currently talking to some stakeholders as well as policymakers and legislative members, even if it’s through their constituents, on how they can collaborate with us to drive the message home.
“If you improve a woman’s health, there is no way you will not be voted for. There is no way you will not be accepted by the people. I believe that with time, it would mature to the point where we can have laws that align with what we’re doing,” she said.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]