Safe Motherhood in Focus as Arieli Foundation Unveils Training Centre

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has commended the Arieli Foundation for Maternal and Child Health for inaugurating its Safe Birthing Kits Initiative and Training Centre.
Speaking at the launch held in Aviation Village, Kyami, Abuja, Professor Pate described the initiative as a significant milestone in efforts to safeguard the lives of mothers and newborns across Nigeria.

Represented by Binta Idris, the Minister stated that the provision of essential birthing kits alongside a dedicated training facility would enhance access to safe delivery materials and strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver quality maternal care.
He stressed that the event marked more than just the opening of a centre, noting that it symbolises a collective resolve to reduce maternal and infant mortality while ensuring safe and dignified childbirth. Professor Pate congratulated the Foundation on the achievement, adding that the project could serve as a template for similar interventions nationwide and further reinforce maternal and child healthcare services.
Earlier, the Founder of the Foundation, Dr. Natasha Oyibo, urged the Federal Government to commit adequate and dedicated funding to improve maternal and child health outcomes. She made the appeal during the official unveiling of the Safe Birthing Kits Initiative and Training Centre at the Foundation’s headquarters.
Dr. Oyibo acknowledged ongoing government efforts to strengthen the healthcare system but maintained that the persistently high rates of maternal and child mortality demand more strategic and sustained action. She emphasised that focused investment in maternal healthcare services, skilled birth attendance, essential medical supplies, and the training of community health workers remains vital to preventing avoidable deaths among women and children.
According to her, maternal and child health must continue to rank high on the national agenda, supported by sufficient funding, effective policy execution, and accountability.
Dr. Oyibo reiterated that no woman should lose her life in the process of childbirth and no child should be deprived of a healthy beginning due to preventable causes. She reaffirmed the Foundation’s readiness to collaborate with government agencies and other stakeholders to advance the health and wellbeing of mothers and children nationwide.
Also speaking, a member of the Foundation, Nancy Oyibo, explained that the launch of the Safe Birthing Kit and Training Centre is aimed at tackling preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Nigeria. She noted that extensive community engagement over the years revealed that many women and infants suffer infections during delivery due to inadequate sterile supplies and limited support.
She described the Safe Birthing Kit as a practical yet transformative intervention designed to encourage cleaner and safer childbirth, especially in underserved communities. Ms. Oyibo further called for sustained partnerships and support from government and relevant stakeholders, stressing that meaningful reductions in maternal and child mortality require collective commitment and long-term investment.