Nigeria is an economic powerhouse and the most populous nation on the African continent. Its current transition to democracy represents an important oppotunity for contributing to both national and regional stability. MacArthur is committed to helping strengthen Nigeria's intellectual, scientific, and civil society communities as a means of helping to facilitate the consolidation of democracy and encouraging economic development. To do this, MacArthur makes grants to strengthen the country's universities, improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people, and to advance human rights. The Foundation has been making grants in Nigeria since 1989 and opened an office in Abuja in 1994. For more information please visit the Foundation's Nigeria website.
Based on the success of MacArthur-supported work to combat maternal mortality, the Nigerian government has allocated $11.7 million in this year’s budget to improve maternal health, including expanding the use of an anti-shock garment to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in 12 states. A recent Foundation-sponsored study conducted at 12 facilities in Nigeria and involving 747 women showed a 60 percent reduction in mortality and an 85 percent reduction in morbidity. Postpartum hemorrhage is responsible for 25 percent of maternal deaths in Nigeria. The anti-shock garment is used to stabilize women while they are transported to a medical facility for treatment and in hospitals while they await blood transfusions. MacArthur is supporting Pathfinder International to scale up the use of the garment to 106 facilities in eight states in Nigeria. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco and the University of Ibadan College Hospital.
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