By: John Bassey, Zamfara.

Nigeria is looking to East African healthcare innovations to combat its high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, as top health officials conclude a high level study tour of Tanzania’s medical facilities.

Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Health, joined a delegation to evaluate the Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC) at Haydom Lutheran Hospital in the Manyara Region.

The initiative aims to modernize labor and delivery protocols across Nigerian hospitals by adopting proven international benchmarks.
The SBBC is a comprehensive clinical package designed to standardize high quality care during labor.

By focusing on the immediate prevention of birth complications, the program seeks to reduce avoidable deaths for both mothers and newborns.

The delegation included Dr. Salma Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, alongside Health Commissioners from Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, and Kwara states.

International health observers also participated in the learning visit.

For Zamfara State, the insights gained from the tour are expected to directly influence upcoming policy shifts.

Dr. Maradun noted that these lessons will guide the implementation of effective maternal and neonatal health interventions, integrating global best practices into Nigeria’s healthcare framework to meet urgent national health targets.