The Safer Births program expands into Nigeria, with trainings in the Northeast
Sixty healthcare professionals in Nigeria are the first in the country to be trained as part of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program, which is now being implemented in projects in Borno and Gombe states.
Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) is a program developed by the Safer Births Consortium, a multidisciplinary research and development collaboration that began in Tanzania. The program focusses on developing the health workforce, through embedding low-dose, high frequency simulation training, alongside improved clinical tools, which target the management of the leading causes of perinatal mortality. These training and clinical innovations have been designed for use in low-income settings, and validated for use through rigorous research. Alongside the innovations, the program comprises data-driven quality improvement initiatives and a focus on sustainability over time.
In Tanzania, the program is showing remarkable results, with a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showing a 40% reduction in early newborn deaths and a staggering 75% reduction in maternal deaths. Read the study here.
Trainings in Gombe and Borno State
Following the success of the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) in Tanzania, stakeholders in Nigeria are now introducing this program to the country. Two projects have kicked off in Northeast Nigeria, a geopolitical zone in Nigeria which has the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths in the country.
With funding from Norad, SBBC is being implemented in Borno state by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), in collaboration with Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Laerdal Global Health, and the Borno State government. The project has started its first phase in four health facilities in Maiduguri but aims to secure additional funding to be further scaled, with an aim to cover most health facilities across the state.
From previous collaborations with Laerdal Global Health, we know first-hand the impact their simulators can make when healthcare workers have the opportunity to regularly engage with them. That’s why we’re delighted to see the results emerging from the Safer Births Bundle of Care program in Tanzania, which prove that when bundled with continuous quality improvement approaches and initiatives for long-term sustainability – thousands of lives can be saved. This is why we are so committed to play our part in this dedicated and professional team now implementing this program in Borno, Nigeria
The second project will reach healthcare workers at eleven facilities by integrating SBBC into a Gates Foundation-funded Group Antenatal Care (G-ANC) initiative led by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). This approach has proven effective in improving care and increasing the use of ancillary services related to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. The goal is to incorporate the Safer Births Bundle of Care into CHAI's project by offering technical assistance to the Gombe State Government in their RMNCH+N model across 42 Primary Health Centers.
The projects in Gombe and Borno state pooled their resources for a joint training to develop a group of mentors and facility champions for their respective projects which kicked off in late January 2025. Trainers from Haydom Lutheran Hospital, the leading implementing partner in Tanzania, alongside team members from Laerdal Global Health, travelled down to Gombe state to facilitate the course.
A total of sixty providers from the two states were trained. Fifteen of these will become project mentors, providing supportive supervision to those in the project facilities. From the further 45 who attended the training, thirty will become local champions in their facilities, meaning they can introduce the SBBC clinical and training innovations to their team members and guide their on-going, regular training. The final fifteen who attended the training were leaders within their facility labor wards and will make sure their teams are onboarded, as well as supporting the culture of continuous learning that is needed for the program to succeed.
"I have attended several trainings before, but this one felt different. You shared so much knowledge without making us feel inadequate. The discussions were engaging; it felt like you had been here before. It was a safe and enriching space to share experiences."
"This training has been an enlightening experience. The methods for managing common maternal challenges are relatable and practical. I am particularly excited about the innovations introduced and hope CHAI fulfils their promise to bring them to our facilities. With these tools and training modalities, we aim to replicate Tanzania's success. We will advocate and push the government to scale this initiative for broader impact."
For more information about the Safer Births program, visit: www.saferbirths.com