Laerdal Global Health recently had the privilege of hosting Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Borno State, Nigeria, during a visit to Norway that included meetings with partners, participation at Arendalsuka, and visits to SAFER and Laerdal Global Health in Stavanger.

Prof. Baba Gana’s time in Norway provided an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable journey with the Safer Births Bundle of Care that began just over a year ago and is already delivering life-saving results for mothers and newborns in Borno State.

Transforming outcomes through partnership and local leadership

During his presentation to Laerdal staff, Prof. Baba Gana shared the challenges facing maternal and newborn health in Nigeria, which accounts for nearly one-third of global maternal deaths. He described how after his appointment he declared a state of emergency on maternal mortality and began searching for proven approaches that could help reverse the trend.

_{Prof. Baba Gana presents one year findings from the Safer Births Bundle of Care to staff at Laerdal HQ in Stavanger, Norway.}

That search led to the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC), an evidence-based approach developed through years of research and implementation in Tanzania.

After visiting Tanzania and seeing the results firsthand, Borno State partnered with Norad, Norwegian Church Aid, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, and Laerdal Global Health to introduce SBBC in four high-volume health facilities in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.

Results that exceeded expectations

The program's initial goal was ambitious: reduce maternal mortality by 30% and newborn mortality by 20% over three years.

After just one year of implementation, the results have already surpassed those targets.

Across the four participating facilities:

• • Maternal mortality was reduced by 54%
  • Stillbirth rates were reduced by 68%

Prof. Baba Gana described the impact as transformative, emphasizing that these achievements were made possible through a combination of training, technology, strong partnerships, and government commitment.

Building for long-term impact

While celebrating the progress made so far, Prof. Baba Gana was equally focused on what comes next.

Borno State is expanding its investment in health workforce development through two new nursing and midwifery colleges, a new teaching hospital, and a dedicated simulation center that is nearing completion. 

Borno state is also preparing to expand the Safer Births Bundle of Care to additional facilities. Prof. Baba Gana boldly predicted that “you know, this is not the end, but this is the beginning of the end.”

The impact is already extending beyond Borno’ borders. What began in four facilities has helped inspire wider adoption across Nigeria, with 11 states now implementing SBBC approaches supported by UNICEF as part of broader efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

A shared misson

_{Prof. Baba Gana, Commissioner for Health and Human Services Borno State, meets with Laerdal Global Health staff in Stavanger, Norway.}

Throughout his visit, Prof. Baba Gana repeatedly highlighted the value of partnership and shared learning.

"The work you are doing is helping and saving lives," he told Laerdal staff during a talk in Stavanger. "If you come to Nigeria and see these remarkable achievements, then you will feel very proud."

Prof. Gana’s visit was a powerful reminder that lasting improvements in maternal and newborn health require more than equipment or training alone. They depend on strong local ownership, committed leadership, trusted partnerships, and a shared determination to ensure that more mothers survive childbirth and more newborns get the chance to celebrate their first birthday.

As Borno State looks to scale its progress, the visit reinforced what is possible when evidence-based solutions are combined with local leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The results achieved in Borno State demonstrate the potential of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns, even in some of the most challenging settings.