By Sola Ogundipe

IT was accolades galore at the recent close-out event of the Evidence for Action, MamaYe, and Options UK partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

At the event themed “Delivering UHC Through Localisation: Building Resilient Grassroots Coalition and Accountability Mechanisms for Stronger Health System in Nigeria and Africa”,  the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the power of partnership was collaboration.

Ogunyemi commended E4A-MamaYe for revitalising the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Child, and Newborn Health, LASAM.

“It is making sure all the stakeholders this is a step in the right direction and we have a lot more to do, collaborating with every partner and stakeholder.  From what I have heard, E4AMamaYe has created an awareness that every single life is important, every mother who is pregnant, and the child that is born deserves the best access to care and quality.

“And so the legacy is that your life is important and we are going to do everything to ensure that no life is lost. We want zero percent maternal death in Lagos state and we are striving towards that.”

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye,  said, “The significance of this activity is about what we can achieve together with E4A-MamaYe and the fact that Lagos state government is determined to sustain the gains of the programme and build on the gains and to let the funder know that we are hoping that they are extending the collaboration.”

Through the partnership, Ogboye said  Lagos state was well on the way to meeting the expected objectives of the programme.

“We intend to do more of those things that we know are working from the data we have collected and to ensure that we carry the men along as much as the women along now because men are also decision-makers in the household.

“As a State, we are always happy to welcome partners because we understand that partnerships with key stakeholders give us more mileage and support to do more for the people of Lagos State.” Further, he stressed that Lagos State, as a thriving urban hub, recognises the critical importance of partnerships in shaping the future of its population and fostering sustainable development.

“We have been delighted as a State to work with the Evidence for Action, Mamaye, and Options UK through the initial phase as well as the extension phase.

“The Mamaye support to the State has truly been a beneficial experience for the State in the maternal and child health space with a core focus on the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response, MPDSR, Programme and in an accountability framework for maternal and child health. Your passion for our shared vision in the health sector and your dedication have been commendable.”

 On her part, the Co-Chair of LASAM, Dr Folasade Oludara,   explained that Lagos State was well on the way to meeting the objectives of the programme.

“We are already on the path and government commitment is very strong. We are also opportune to have our partners willing to assist us within the space of RMNCAH, and with the collaboration of the community members we would be able to sustain all the gains that have been recorded.

“We intend to do more of those things that we know are working from the data we have collected and to ensure that we carry the men along as much as we are carrying the women along now because men are also decision-makers in the household.”

In the view of the  Regional Director, of West &Central Africa, Options, Dr Ufuoma Omo-Obi,  “What we want to achieve is not the end, we’ve just begun a new journey. What we have seen from the conversations today and engagement and testimonials is that there is a shared value in Lagos and the collaboration is here to stay. There is no going back or stopping the train, or the budget or allocation for LASAM to do its work and function effectively is there.

“What is left is to take this beautiful light from Lagos to the rest of Nigeria, the rest of Africa so that they can see that it is possible to achieve zero maternal death in our facilities by learning and doing what Lagos has done. We hope that LASAM will remain a learning hub for others to come and get light from and we will be there. The theme is important and we have agreed to make it work.