World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $500 million-International Development Association (IDA) credit to improve maternal, child, and nutrition health in Nigeria.
Nigeria accounts for 14 per cent of all annual maternal deaths worldwide, second only to India at 17 per cent. In 2012, Federal Ministry of Health launched “Saving One Million Lives (SOML) Initiative,” which was aimed at saving the lives of thousands of women and children who die from preventable diseases.
World Bank Lead Health Specialist and Task Team Leader for the new project, Mr. Benjamin Loevinsohn said: “Saving One Million Lives is a bold response from the Nigerian government to improve the health of the country’s mothers and children so they can survive illness and thrive. This, in turn, will also contribute to the social and economic development of Africa’s largest economy.”
Nigeria Country Director, World Bank, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly added that “This welcome new Program for Results operation for health will also strengthen Nigeria’s own health system and development footing while also providing an important mechanism for bringing both Government and development partners together around a commitment to achieve specific, tangible results.”