With one death every seven minutes, Nigeria has been called the world's most dangerous nation for a mother to give birth. Globally, Nigeria accounts over a quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths, with around 75,000 women dying from childbirth every year. There is a shortage of trained healthcare personnel to address this crisis.
Together with partners, we’re working toward improving maternal and newborn health in Nigeria. The Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) program combines hands-on training with continuous quality improvement to save mothers and newborns. The program has shown a 75% reduction in maternal deaths and 40% reduction in newborn deaths.
We’re also working to establish and integrate simulation-based training at pre-service institutions and for healthcare workers already in-service as training is a critical component to improving patient outcomes.
In addition to our focus on maternal and newborn care, we’re also working toward improving basic emergency care training.
So far, our work with partners spans 12 states. We have ambitions and plans to further scale our impact within these states, as well as reaching others across Nigeria in the coming years.
The program
The SBBC project in Borno State commenced in 2025 across 4 facilities, 2 secondary healthcare facilities and 2 primary healthcare facilities.
After just one year of implementation, the results have exceeded targets with a reduction in maternal mortality by 54%, and the stillbirth rate by 68%, across the four participating facilities.
The program
The Safer Births Bundle of Care program will reach healthcare workers at eleven facilities, as it is integrated into a Gates Foundation-funded Group Antenatal Care (G-ANC) initiative led by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). This approach has proven effective in improving care and increasing the use of ancillary services related to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
The program
This three-year initiative funded by the Gates Foundation is being implemented in 20 midwifery institutions in Nigeria, addressing critical gaps in midwifery education with high-impact, scalable interventions.
A simulation-based approach and facility-based low-dose-high-frequency training, along with the use of innovative equipment, can be applied across all healthcare facilities in diverse settings in Nigeria, to promote ongoing learning and improve the quality of healthcare in our country.
Laerdal Global Health Joins New Partnership Across Northern Nigeria
Laerdal Global Health has joined a new Gates Foundation-funded partnership to strengthen maternal and newborn health in Northern Nigeria, reaching more than 190 health facilities and over 10 million women.
New project to strengthen midwifery education in Nigeria begins
A new project agreement with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria will see LGH provide expertise to enhance midwifery education at institutions across the country.
Safer Births Bundle of Care training rolls out to all 15 participating facilities in Nigeria
Cascade Safer Births Bundle of Care training in Nigeria bring innovative tools and approach into all participating facilities.
Connect with us
Country Director, Nigeria
Senior Implementation Specialist, Nigeria
Implementation Specialist, Tanzania & Nigeria
Implementation Specialist, Nigeria
