Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation Launches Beginnings Fund To Enhance Maternal And Newborn Health In Africa

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, along with its partners, has introduced the "Beginnings Fund," a significant philanthropic effort aimed at improving maternal and newborn survival rates in Africa. The launch event occurred at Kanad Hospital in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi's first modern hospital. Attendees included H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other notable figures.

H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed expressed, "Through the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, we are honoured to support the Beginnings Fund in giving more mothers and children the opportunity of a healthy start. In the earliest days of the UAE, our nation faced high maternal and newborn mortality rates. This journey taught us the profound importance of quality healthcare that is available to all, at every stage of life, and this knowledge continues to guide us today. Through this partnership, we further our dedication to working hand-in-hand with governments and partners to build a healthier, more hopeful future for generations to come."

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The Beginnings Fund aims to collaborate with African governments and organisations to prevent over 300,000 deaths by 2030. It seeks to improve healthcare access for 34 million mothers and babies. This initiative is part of a broader $600 million commitment towards maternal and newborn health, including $100 million directly allocated to advancing the fund's mission.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO stated, "The world has made real progress on reducing the number of maternal and child deaths in the last two decades, thanks to dedicated health workers and governments, backed by investment and technical know-how. But still, every seven seconds, a mother or baby dies a preventable death. We welcome the launch of the Beginnings Fund and look forward to working closely with all those involved to end these preventable tragedies."

The Ethiopian Minister of Health emphasised that preventable causes should not claim mothers' and newborns' lives. The minister highlighted shared responsibility in building robust health systems that protect pregnant women and newborns. With proper investments and innovations, countries have transformed maternal care successfully.

Alice Kang'ethe from the Beginnings Fund acknowledged African governments' role in advancing maternal health through innovative solutions. She thanked national organisations and founding investors for their collaborative efforts in driving change across Africa.

Strategic Partnerships Driving Change

The initial funding commitment from philanthropies aims to attract additional donors for long-term sustainability. The fund will focus on strengthening healthcare workforces and equipping facilities with cost-effective interventions. By leveraging innovations and empowering skilled workers, it supports governments in ensuring healthier futures for mothers and babies.

Robyn Calder from ELMA Philanthropies remarked on pooling resources with others through the Beginnings Fund: "The ELMA Foundation is impelled to pool our collective optimism and funding with others in the Beginnings Fund so that we can move beyond making periodic grants..."

Innovations Transforming Maternal Care

Mark Suzman from Gates Foundation noted recent advancements in maternal care but stressed that these solutions need wider reach: "In the past decade, researchers have pioneered remarkable new ways to keep mothers and their children alive... We're committed to working with government...to address this unacceptable disparity..."

The fund will operate across ten countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. It will continue investing multi-year funding through country-level partnerships.

With inputs from WAM