George Washington University’s Institute for Corporate Responsibility has joined forces with Nigerian actress and humanitarian Stephanie Linus, along with her Extended Hands Foundation, to launch the Maternal Health and Nutrition Initiative Africa (MaHNIA).
The initiative aims to tackle maternal health and nutrition challenges in marginalized African communities by empowering women and improving health outcomes.
The partnership was officially introduced following two screenings of Linus’s award-winning film Dry, which depicts the struggles of a 13-year-old Nigerian child bride facing obstetric fistula. The screenings set the stage for a dynamic panel discussion on maternal health, women’s rights, and the crucial role of nutrition in strengthening healthcare systems across Africa. The event was co-hosted by the George Washington University Global Food Institute and the Global Women’s Institute.
Stephanie Linus emphasized the need for comprehensive care, stating, “Safe motherhood and proper nutrition are not privileges; they are fundamental rights. Through MaHNIA, we aim to ensure that women in underserved communities not only survive childbirth but thrive afterward. This initiative combines healthcare and nutrition to create lasting solutions.”
Tara Scully, Director of Curriculum Development at the Global Food Institute, underlined the integral connection between nutrition and healthcare. “When we talk about healthcare, we must also talk about nutrition. A mother’s nutritional status affects both her health and that of her child. By integrating nutrition education into healthcare, we can improve outcomes for generations to come.”
John J. Forrer, Director of GW’s Institute for Corporate Responsibility, stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing healthcare challenges. “The private sector, working alongside public health institutions, can play a pivotal role in improving access to healthcare. Through collaboration, we can ensure that maternal health services reach those who need them most,” he explained.
Erin Mielke, Senior Technical Adviser for Reproductive Health at USAID, highlighted the increasing prevalence of unsafe medical practices, such as cesarean deliveries and hysterectomies, particularly in low-resource settings. “Unsafe cesarean deliveries and hysterectomies are becoming more prevalent, especially in low-resource settings. At USAID, we are addressing these challenges through a holistic approach that includes gender-based violence training, nutrition assessments, and physiotherapy,” Mielke said.
Professor Lauri J. Romanzi of Thomas Jefferson University joined the discussion, stressing the need to strengthen healthcare systems in Africa. “Fistula is entirely preventable. For every woman who survives a fistula, several others die. Strengthening health systems can eliminate this entirely,” she remarked.
The event provided a platform for open conversations on integrating nutrition into maternal health solutions. The collaboration will leverage expertise from across the GW community, developing a toolkit with Nigerian partners to advance both research and community engagement.
Closing the discussion, Stephanie Linus shared her passion for using storytelling as a tool for social change. “My film Dry tells the story of just one girl, but her story represents millions of women who suffer in silence. Through this initiative, we are giving a voice to those women and providing real solutions,” she said.
The Maternal Health and Nutrition Initiative Africa represents a significant step forward in addressing the maternal health crisis across the continent. By combining healthcare services with nutrition support and community-driven solutions, MaHNIA aims to create lasting change for women and children in underserved African communities.
