Norway together with the United Kingdom supports a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Programme in Northern Nigeria. The Norwegian contribution (approx NOK 250 million/USD 50 million from 2008 – 2012) is part of the global initiative of the Norwegian Government to address Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The UK contribution is part of DFID’s bilateral country programme with the Government of Nigeria. Partners include federal, state and local government, civil society; other donors such as the EU and USAID; international organisations such as the UN, GAVI and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; and other DFID consortia and programmes.
The goal of the initiative is to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Northern Nigeria by improving the quality and access to MNCH services in four states – Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara. The initiative will support an established routine immunisation programme (PRRINN) working in four States (Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara and develop a new MNCH programme focussing on three of these States (Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara), although cross-cutting issues may apply to Jigawa also. PRRINN will also be the implementing consortium for the MNCH Initiative.