Guest Speaker: Maternal Health in Nigeria
In July we welcomed Professor Lufadeju was a founding member of the Rotary International Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal & Child Health, launching the "Together for Healthy Families" program in 1995 as a collaboration between Rotary clubs in Nigeria and Germany.
It was an honour to listen to Professor Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju as a guest speaker—albeit virtually at 4am time from the United States he took the time to speak to us! Despite the hour, the opportunity to share the impact of Rotary’s “Together for Healthy Families” initiative was invigorating. This ambitious Programs of Scale effort has been driven by Rotary’s long-standing commitment to community health and global maternal wellbeing.
Our journey began formally in 1997, but the roots trace back to 1994 during the Rotary International District Governor Training Assembly. From those early conversations, a powerful and life-saving movement emerged. Between 1995 and 2005, our efforts contributed to increasing the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) from a mere 3% to 27%—a remarkable improvement that reflects the strength of Rotary’s global network and our focus on grassroots empowerment. The Rotary Foundation as nominated to program as a Program of Scale, which funds large-scale, high-impact projects that attract exceptional partners while making the most of the capacity, expertise, and enthusiasm of Rotary members. The program has just finished its second year and has recieved over $2million dollar so far, supported by the Rotary Foundation as well as some long term partners.
Four Pillars of Impact
From 1995 to 2022, the program evolved around four foundational pillars:
Program Awareness Campaigns
We focused on education—helping families understand they had choices when it came to planning pregnancies. Awareness that contraceptives existed and were accessible was the first step in empowering informed decisions.Contraceptive Distribution
Making contraceptives available—especially in underserved communities—ensured that awareness could translate into action.Capacity Building
We trained doctors, nurses, and midwives to administer contraceptives safely and competently, building confidence within the healthcare system and among the community.Strengthening Health Institutions
Equipping health facilities with better resources and practices ensured sustainable care delivery for maternal and reproductive health.
Addressing the Three Delays in Healthcare Access
We understood that for too many, accessing maternal care was delayed until it was too late. Our program directly tackled the three critical delays:
Delay in Decision-Making: Many women waited until they were in active labour to seek help. We promoted prenatal visits and proactive planning.
Delay in Reaching Care: Transportation and distance to health facilities were significant barriers. Addressing these logistical challenges saved lives.
Delay in Receiving Care: Even when mothers arrived, facilities often lacked staff. We worked to ensure skilled providers were on hand when needed most.
Preventing Risky Pregnancies
Another key focus was preventing high-risk pregnancies, including:
Pregnancies too early in life,
Pregnancies too late,
Too many pregnancies, or
Pregnancies spaced too closely together.
Each of these scenarios poses significant risks for both mother and child. Our goal was to reduce these risks through education, access, and continued care.
Quality Assurance in Maternal Care
We also introduced robust Quality Assurance measures in obstetrics, focused on:
Structure – the facilities and resources available,
Process – the care and treatment procedures,
Outcome – the real-world results for mothers and babies.
This tri-fold framework allowed us to measure and improve at every level of healthcare delivery.
Targeting Real Change by 2025
Our ambitions are bold but grounded in data and determination. By 2025, we aim to achieve:
A 50% reduction in maternal mortality
A 15% reduction in newborn mortality
To reach these goals, we’ve incorporated postnatal health services, community engagement, and widespread education initiatives into the model. It’s not enough to intervene during delivery—we must provide care before, during, and after pregnancy.
A Truly Holistic Approach
“Together for Healthy Families” is more than a program—it’s a testament to what Rotary can do when we unite expertise, compassion, and global action. This holistic, structured approach has demonstrated that big impact is possible when we address the full spectrum of maternal and newborn health, from education to infrastructure, from awareness to access.
The Professor thanked Ryde Rotary for the warm welcome and for the opportunity to share his important work. He was emphasising that together, we are not only saving lives—we are transforming futures.