– A Part of the Success
Norwegian Church Aid has supported Haydom Lutheran Hospital for many years. “Norwegian Church Aid is very important to us and is part of this success,” says the hospital’s managing director, Paschal Mdoe.
Strengthening Safer Births in Northeast Nigeria Through SBBC Champions Training
The journey to safer births in northeast Nigeria gained momentum after the successful Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) Champions Training. The programme was organized by Norwegian Church Aid in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Health and facilitated by Haydom Lutheran Hospital.
The five day training equipped 11 frontline health workers from Borno and Gombe states with practical skills to improve maternal and newborn care. Observers from government health bodies also participated, showing strong commitment and ownership of the innovation.
Building Skills Through Simulation Based Learning
The training is a simulation-based learning programme where health workers practice real life scenarios using the Safer Births Bundle of Care, a set of tools and practices designed to help manage childbirth safely and reduce risks for mothers and newborns.
Through hands on simulation exercises and scenario-based sessions, participants strengthened their clinical decision making, teamwork, and confidence in responding to maternal and neonatal emergencies.
Alignment With Government Health Priorities
Speaking on the importance of the training, Tinbit Esayas, GBV/ASRH/SBBC Programs Manager at Norwegian Church Aid Nigeria, noted:
“The Safer Births Bundle of Care aligns with the government’s overall objective of reducing maternal and neonatal outcomes in Nigeria.”
Addressing Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Challenge
Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge, particularly in conflict affected regions. According to Baba Mallam Gana, Commissioner for Health and Human Services:
“Maternal mortality is a big problem in Nigeria, and every eight minutes a woman dies while giving birth. Borno State ranks third in the country. So far, our preliminary results from the four facilities where the SBBC is being implemented are excellent. We are opening new facilities to accommodate SBBC, and it is going to become the norm in the state.”
Strong Commendation From Technical Partners
The quality of the training and participants’ performance received strong commendation from technical partners. Lydia Ishaya Audu, Senior Implementation Specialist at Laerdal Global Health Nigeria, praised the initiative:
“I am impressed by the quality of the training and the participants. The way they conducted debriefing, you would think they have been doing this for a long time. I congratulate NCA for a very successful training.”
Similarly, Pascal Mdoe, Executive Director of Haydom Lutheran Hospital, highlighted the programme’s broader impact:
“The SBBC implementation in Nigeria is delivering real results. Health workers are confident, maternal mortality has reduced, and the quality of training is impressive. The teams are doing very well and need only minimal coaching to strengthen their skills further.”
Participants also described the training as practical and transformative for their daily work. Hadizah Ali, Facility In charge at Mohammed Shuwa Hospital, shared:
“This training has added to my knowledge of maternal and neonatal care. The new device we were taught will allow us know better what to do when there is an emergency. The SBBC is a game changer and will enhance our practice with quality care.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Maryam Bukar, Nurse Midwife, explained:
“The new equipment will help us provide quality care to our patients. We were given the opportunity to practice what we learned and are now better equipped to manage prolonged labour and other maternal and neonatal emergencies.”
The training shows how working together across government, partners, and health workers can improve care for mothers and newborns. With trained champions now leading the work in their facilities, it is helping reduce preventable deaths and promote safer births across northeast Nigeria.
Read more about the Safer Births Bundle of Care program
A Child Is Born
Paskalina’s delivery could have gone terribly wrong. She survived thanks to the care she received at Haydom Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania.
Fewer newborns and mothers are dying in Tanzania
Deaths among newborns and mothers have been significantly reduced in several areas where the "Safer Births Bundle" programme has been implemented in Tanzania. Now, the success is being replicated in Nigeria.