Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Programme

Northern Nigeria has some of the highest rates of maternal, newborn and child mortality in the world.

The purpose of the programme is to improve the quality and availability of all maternal, newborn and child health services in the three states of Yobe, Katsina and Zamfara. These services include:

  • antenatal and postnatal care
  • safer deliveries
  • care for newborn and young children
  • improved nutrition
  • routine immunization
  • effective Primary Health Care


The £22.7 million four-year Maternal Newborn and Child Health programme is funded by the Government of Norway and implemented by the UK Department for International Development.

The MNCH and the existing Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria (PRRINN) programmes are closely linked and a number of their outputs and activities are inter-dependent. The two programmes have a "single face" for in-country stakeholders.

The health systems-strengthening objectives of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health programme enables PRRINN goals and objectives to be achieved more effectively and will help to ensure that achievements can be sustained in the medium- to long-term

Health Partners International, Save the Children UK and GRID Consulting of Nigeria manages the MNCH programme. They are assisted by Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, Ahmadu Bello University, Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health and Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria.