To curb the alarming rate of maternal and newborn deaths in Plateau State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, has inaugurated the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Innovative Initiative (MAMII) Taskforce.
The inauguration took place during an Onboarding Engagement Meeting held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, J.D. Gomwalk Secretariat, Jos.
The taskforce, which brings together key stakeholders from government and development partners, includes the Plateau State Primary Healthcare Board (PSPHCB), Plateau State Hospital Management Board (PSHMB), Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA), Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (PLASEMSAS), as well as MAMII focal officers and other relevant actors.
Dr. Ba’amlong explained that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, had deployed the District Health Information System (DHIS) tool to identify local government areas with the highest maternal mortality burden across the country.
In Plateau State, Jos East Local Government Area emerged as the worst affected, prompting the task force to prioritize interventions there under the MAMII framework.
He further announced that a MAMII capacity-building workshop has been scheduled for September 1st to 5th, 2025, at Fox Hotel, Jos, urging all stakeholders to participate fully.
According to him, the workshop will be a critical platform for aligning strategies and strengthening coordinated action.
“The goal of this initiative is simple but urgent: to strengthen collaboration among agencies, improve healthcare delivery, and ensure that no woman or child dies from preventable causes in Plateau State,” the Commissioner stressed.
The task force is expected to commence immediate engagement with stakeholders in Jos East, mobilize resources, and coordinate interventions to enhance maternal and child health systems.
The launch of the MAMII Taskforce is seen as a major milestone in Plateau State’s commitment to reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths, while also reinforcing national strategies for improved reproductive health outcomes.
Credit: Lengmi Joshua Lumi
