In global health, a few challenges are as urgent and imperative as ensuring safe and dignified childbirth for women everywhere, especially in Africa.
In Nigeria, according to research study, the rate of maternal deaths lies at 512 per 100,000 live births, amounting to more than 50,000 countless lives that are lost due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly in low-resource settings.
In 2011, MSD made a commitment in 2011 to help create a world where no woman would have to face the peril of losing her life while bringing the life of a child into the world. T
The company endeavored to build systems and partnerships to improve maternal health care for the most disadvantaged women and communities – MSD for Mothers.
In 2021, MSD’s new CEO, Rob Davis, said his team at MSD had launched the “Strengthening Systems for Safer Childbirth” initiative It is a comprehensive strategy designed to transform maternal health systems, ensuring that women across the globe receive safe, equitable, and giving high-quality care during childbirth.
MSD for Mothers recognizes that achieving the goal of safe childbirth is not an isolated effort: the mission is clear: to ensure that women, irrespective of their location, receive care that is not only of high quality, but also respectful and equitable.
Reflecting on a decade of operations, Dr. Etiebet maintained that MSD for Mothers has gleaned invaluable insights and has recognized that transformative change cannot be achieved by a top-down approach or simply by funnelling resources. Sustainable systems demand more – a holistic view of investment that encompasses people, infrastructure, and innovation. MSD for Mothers has adopted a private-sector lens to its partnerships, acting as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable growth. The guiding principles are simple yet profound: equity, proximity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
The ‘EPIC’ journey
The journey has several components that are listed below:
Equitable Investment: MSD for Mothers understands that impactful change stems from investing in local organisations, grassroots initiatives, and visionary entrepreneurs. By focusing resources on community-based organizations, the initiative fosters sustainable models that continue to thrive after external support diminishes.
Proximate Leadership: The proximity principle insists that leadership should be rooted in the communities where interventions are deployed. Those who are closest to the challenges hold the reins of change. It ensures that the decisions and actions align with the needs and experiences of the people on the ground.
Inclusivity: A cornerstone of MSD for Mothers’ approach is to ensure that women’s voices are integrated into every facet of their work. It’s not merely about listening but about actively responding to the needs and priorities of women and girls. This approach ensures that interventions are relevant, effective, and truly transformative.
Collaboration: The adage “We go far together” rings true in providing truly impactful solutions for maternal health, particularly in Nigeria’s mixed and deeply fragmented health system. MSD for Mothers recognizes that no single entity can tackle the complexity of maternal health on its own. Partnerships are formed, knowledge is shared, and collective progress is achieved. By aligning investments, innovations, and collaborations, there should be a seismic shift in maternal health outcomes. By investing in people, both healthcare providers and mothers, it enhances the capacity to deliver comprehensive care – care that encompasses not only the technical aspect but also the human touch.
One thing is clear. The private sector healthcare establishments have to do more.
By bridging the gap between public and private healthcare, it would build a unified health system, seamlessly blending public and private services, to ensure that women receive dignified, high-quality care, regardless of where they seek it.