The role of advocacy in the national strategy for maternal death review in Nigeria

Strategic advocacy has played a substantial role in the development and implementation of maternal death review (MDR) in Nigeria. Stakeholders that include the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria have partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure a robust arrangement that will guarantee the success of MDR in this country. Consequently, it is envisaged that the program will both contribute to a sustainable reduction in the maternal mortality ratio and promote improvements in maternal health care. The Nigerian experience indicates that the influence of stakeholders, such as professional organizations, is essential to drive the development of MDR programs through provision of advocacy and technical support. The current convergence of factors including global support, political will, technical innovations, and increased financial resources provides an ideal opportunity to make MDR a reality for all countries. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.