SSDC Backs National Push To Reduce Maternal, Newborn Deaths
By Mercy Tula, SOUTH SOUTH CORRESPONDENT – The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths in the Niger Delta as Nigeria launched a new national initiative aimed at increasing the utilisation of maternal and newborn healthcare services.
The Commission’s Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development, who represented the Managing Director/CEO of the SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, made the commitment on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the national flag-off of the Incentives to Increase Maternal and Newborn Care Services Utilization initiative.
The programme was initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, as part of efforts to remove barriers preventing women and newborns from accessing essential healthcare services.
Speaking at the event, the SSDC representative described the initiative as a timely and life-saving intervention capable of encouraging more women to seek skilled medical care before, during and after childbirth.
He said the Commission, under the leadership of its Managing Director/CEO, remained committed to ensuring that interventions designed to improve maternal and newborn health reach communities across the South-South region.
According to him, particular attention must be given to women and families living in rural, riverine and underserved communities where geographical, economic and social barriers often limit access to quality healthcare.
He called on State Governments, healthcare providers, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, community-based organisations and families to take ownership of the initiative and translate the national intervention into concrete action at the grassroots.
He stressed that the success of the programme should not be measured merely by the number of people reached, but by tangible improvements in maternal and newborn health outcomes.
“The true measure of success will be fewer preventable maternal and newborn deaths, increased access to skilled healthcare and healthier families,” he said.
The SSDC Executive Director further underscored the wider social importance of investing in maternal and newborn healthcare, noting that protecting mothers and children was fundamental to securing the future of communities and the nation.
“Saving a mother is saving a family; saving a newborn is protecting the future of our nation,” he added.
The national flag-off brought together stakeholders from government, healthcare, development and community sectors, with renewed emphasis on collaborative efforts to improve access to quality maternal and newborn care services across Nigeria.
For the South-South region, the Commission’s position signals a broader commitment to ensuring that women in hard-to-reach communities are not left behind in national healthcare interventions.
