By: Edward Samuel, Abuja
The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes, emphasising quality care as key to saving lives.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, made this known during a ministerial briefing to mark the 2026 Safe Motherhood Day in Abuja.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kacholom, stated that although Nigeria has made progress in expanding access to maternal health services, gaps remain in ensuring that every woman receives timely and life-saving care.
“This year’s theme reminds us that access alone is not enough, what truly saves lives is the quality, timeliness, and equity of care provided to every woman, everywhere in Nigeria,” he said.
Kacholom highlighted the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMI), now operational in 32 states, noting that it has strengthened service delivery and improved emergency response systems.
“Through MAMI, we have scaled up targeted interventions and ensured that no woman is left behind, with over 32,000 women and 1,700 newborns already benefiting from emergency obstetric and neonatal care,” he added.
He further disclosed that the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has deployed over 600 ambulances nationwide and transported more than 78,000 beneficiaries.
“Pregnant women account for about 60 per cent of these cases, demonstrating the critical role of emergency transport in reducing delays and saving lives,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also noted improvements in antenatal care attendance and a 20 per cent increase in skilled birth attendance in some high-burden areas, stressing that the effective implementation of policies rests with states and other stakeholders.
“Every maternal death is a tragedy. It is preventable, and it is unacceptable. We must move from commitments to concrete actions,” he emphasised.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, stated that strengthening primary healthcare remains central to achieving safe motherhood in Nigeria.
“We have focused on revitalising primary healthcare systems, ensuring that facilities are equipped, staffed, and able to provide 24-hour quality services for pregnant women,” Aina said.
He disclosed that over 19,000 skilled birth attendants have been recruited across more than 20 states, alongside nearly 4,000 community health workers engaged on a sustainable basis.
“This is not ad hoc employment; it is a deliberate effort to build a resilient workforce that will continue to deliver quality care at the grassroots,” he stated.
Aina added that thousands of mama kits have been distributed to encourage facility-based deliveries, noting a steady rise in antenatal care attendance.
“We are seeing improvements in ANC attendance and retention, which signifies not just increased utilisation, but also improved quality of care,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kacholom, represented by Dr Kamil Shoretire, stressed the importance of strengthening health systems to deliver quality care.
“Expanding access is important, but what saves lives is care that is timely, skilled, and respectful, delivered through a resilient health system,” he said.(Voice of Nigeria)
