The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to safe motherhood and ending preventable maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
This comes amid a national call to action by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to mark the 2025 Safe Motherhood Week, during which a slate of new policy documents and reforms was unveiled to drastically reduce maternal deaths and strengthen health systems.
Even as it commended the government’s efforts and pledged continued support, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged authorities to prioritise equity by enacting and enforcing laws that protect the rights of women and children.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday during the commemoration of the Week, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the current moment as a turning point for Nigeria’s health sector, stressing that with renewed political will and targeted reforms, the government is determined to reverse grim statistics claiming the lives of mothers and babies.
“No woman should die giving life, and no child should be born into preventable suffering,” he said, emphasising that maternal and child health is now central to Nigeria’s development agenda.
Pate acknowledged recent reports of maternal deaths, including a tragic case in Lagos involving delays at a private facility.
He said the State government is reviewing the incident, stressing that “No pregnancy should be considered routine, and no maternal death is acceptable; each loss is one too many.”
He said it was for reasons such as the Lagos incident that the government has been unrelenting in initiating enduring reforms with the latest unveiling of several documents to guide implementation, including the 2024–2028 Safe Motherhood Strategy, updated clinical guidelines for postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders, a maternal and adolescent quality-of-care framework, and a national training manual on obstetric fistula.
He said the reforms are anchored in the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), which aims to expand primary healthcare access, improve skilled birth attendance, and deliver free emergency obstetric and newborn care to vulnerable populations.
According to Pate, 23 States have joined the expanded national ambulance and emergency system, and 15 facilities now offer free fistula repair services.
However, he noted that while 67 percent of women attend antenatal clinics, far fewer deliver with skilled attendants, a situation the Federal government is determined to reverse.
He also emphasised the need for effective referral systems and called on all Nigerians, from families to local leaders, to take responsibility for every pregnant woman they encounter.
Pate further revealed that the Federal government has signed a compact with all 36 state governors and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to improve maternal and child health services.
He underscored the importance of equipping healthcare workers, ensuring respectful care, and reducing the financial burden of accessing services.
“We’re not shying away from the hard work. This government is making the tough decisions, and we’re seeing progress,” he stressed.
While urging the public to arrive, be informed, utilise, and assess government initiatives aimed at addressing challenges in the health sector, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Pate said, “No matter what the government does, the government can’t drag a woman from her house into a facility.
“This requires collective action. Every one of us can do something to help the next pregnant woman we see.
“Civil society and media must help normalise facility-based delivery. In some countries, home births are no longer the norm. That must be our goal,”
Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, represented by Director of Family Health Binyere Ukaire, described maternal deaths as a tragedy that reflects systemic failures.
“Every pregnancy should be wanted, every birth safe, and every mother and baby should thrive,” she said.
Despite challenges, Kachollom said coordinated investments are already yielding results across several states. Still, access remains uneven, especially in rural areas.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reinforced its support for Nigeria’s health sector renewal.
Country Representative Walter Mulombo praised recent gains, citing the launch of the Safer Birth Bundle of Care in Borno State and the government’s commitment to increased health investment amid global instability.
Mulombo said the newly launched documents would be instrumental in rolling out the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovative Initiative.
He, however, urged the government to expand access to quality maternal and newborn care, especially in underserved areas, and to enact laws that protect women’s and children’s rights.
“We must address the underlying social and economic drivers of inequity,” he said, calling for accountability, innovation, and coordination in line with Nigeria’s “One plan, One agenda” approach.
“Health is not a privilege, it is a human right,” Mulombo added, pledging continued support from development partners and the United Nations (UN) agencies.