< Back to insights
January 28, 2025

Axmed Partners to Transform Maternal Healthcare in Africa

Breaking Barriers to MNCH Access: A Transformative Partnership

At Axmed, we’re proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at improving access to life-saving medicines for mothers, newborns, and children (MNCH). Together with the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) in Kenya and CHAN Medi-Pharm in Nigeria, as well as Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), we are tackling critical barriers in global health, driven by a shared vision to ensure equitable healthcare access for all.

Every year, preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications claim the lives of over 287,000 women, while 2.3 million newborns die within their first month. These staggering figures underscore the urgent need for bold, innovative solutions that challenge the status quo.

Emmanuel Akpakwu, Chief Executive Officer of Axmed, highlighted:

“Collaboration is the cornerstone of transformative healthcare solutions. This partnership exemplifies how we can break barriers to access and deliver life-saving medicines to the mothers and children who need them most. Together, we’re improving health outcomes for families across the continent.”

Driving Impact in Kenya and Nigeria

This collaboration focuses on scaling MNCH and nutrition interventions in underserved communities, with a commitment to empowering health workers and strengthening healthcare systems. By leveraging faith-based organizations’ deep-rooted connections in these communities, we aim to align care with national guidelines and drive sustainable solutions—such as drug revolving funds—across 250 health facilities in Kenya and Nigeria.

The Axmed Platform plays a pivotal role in this effort, streamlining procurement and ensuring cost-effective access to essential medicines for postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal care. These efforts are already delivering measurable impact, with thousands of families benefiting from improved access to care.

Richard Neci, Executive Director at EPN, emphasized:
“Faith-based organizations play a crucial role in underserved communities. By expanding this partnership, we’re building stronger healthcare systems and ensuring no family is left behind. We believe we can scale this across the continent.”

Wycliffe Nandama, Managing Director of MEDS, remarked:
“Axmed’s initiative is fully aligned with MEDS’ vision of providing transformative health solutions globally.”

Olusanya Ezekiel Omirin, Acting Managing Director of CHAN Medi-Pharm Limited/Gte, stated:
“CHAN Medi-Pharm Limited/Gte is happy to collaborate with Axmed in working towards increasing access to affordable medicines and healthcare commodities for all patients in Nigeria. We are confident this partnership will result in significant cost savings and improve access to quality medicines in Nigeria.”

Felix Ohnmacht, Chief Commercial Officer at Axmed, shared:
“This partnership is built on the belief that innovation and collaboration can transform healthcare access. By leveraging in-country expertise and the power of technology, we’re addressing some of the toughest challenges in maternal and child health. We’re guided by an unwavering belief in the value of every human life and together, we’re creating a future where quality care is accessible to everyone.”

A Bold Vision for the Future

With the open release of the Axmed Platform on January 30, 2025, and the Access Summit on February 6, 2025, we are taking the next step in our mission to revolutionize healthcare access. This partnership is just the beginning of a bold journey to transform health outcomes for families across Sub-Saharan Africa.
We invite all who share our vision of equitable healthcare to join us. Together, we can build a future where no mother or child is left behind. Stay tuned for more updates as we advance this vital work.