The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, has stated that, despite marginal improvements, only 43% of women deliver in a health facility, and only 46% of them are attended to by a skilled provider.
In her keynote address at an advocacy workshop on Tuesday, quoting the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey, the Special Adviser also disclosed that the coverage for at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits for pregnant women stands at 52%, compared to the 95% coverage recommended by the World Health Organization.
She added that, regardless of the number of visits, 63% of pregnant women received ANC from a skilled provider in 2023, a figure slightly lower than the 67% achieved in the previous DHS round in 2018.
The advocacy workshop, organized by the Rotary Action Group on Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health (RMCH), was themed “Working Together to Reduce Deaths of Mothers and Newborns in Nigeria.”
Speaking further, Ibrahim-Anas explained that a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur during the critical antenatal care period, many of which could be prevented by post-natal care (PNC). However, PNC coverage in Nigeria stands at only 43%.
“For children, immunization remains one of the most impactful interventions in saving their lives and enabling them to reach their full potential,” she said.
“However, in 2023, only 39% of children aged 12–23 months were fully vaccinated with basic antigens in Nigeria, a slight improvement from 31% in 2018.”
“Childhood deaths under age 5 also showed marginal improvement, from 132 and 67 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 and 63 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, respectively.”
“Sadly, deaths among neonates worsened slightly, rising from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.”
“The key takeaway from these RMCH outcomes is that while we are recording some progress, it is occurring at too slow a rate to meet RMCH targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals.”
She reiterated that building on the modest achievements of previous administrations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to accelerating improvements in the health outcomes of Nigerians, particularly mothers and children.
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“Reform efforts at the NPHCDA, NHIA, and NCDC are all focused on improving RMCH outcomes in Nigeria.”
“This includes the ongoing training of frontline health workers, revitalization of Primary Health Care (PHC) centers, re-capacitation and establishment of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) facilities, and expanding the number of women covered by suitable pre-payment schemes, such as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).”
“Just last week, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, with the support of Mr. President, launched the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project to help reduce maternal mortality rates in Nigeria.”
“Through the MAMII project, the government aims to increase health facility utilization and skilled birth attendance by 60% and reduce maternal mortality by 30% within three years.”
“The MAMII project and other sectoral initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration recognize the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement as a mechanism to promote ownership, people-centered programming, and accountability.”
“This underscores the role of advocates as sounding boards and catalysts for the implementation of government projects designed to improve survival and welfare.”
Also, the Deputy Director of Community Health Services at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muhammad Bello Garba, in his goodwill message, said the agency has prioritized the revitalization of PHCs in terms of infrastructure and equipment.
He added that the agency has scaled up innovations that improve the quality of care for RMNCAEH systems and is upskilling 120,000 frontline healthcare workers to optimize service delivery.
The Executive Director of TA Connect, Dr. Lillian Anomnachi, noted that advocacy plays a crucial role in the fight against maternal and child mortality.
“It is through advocacy that we raise awareness, mobilize resources, and influence policies that directly affect maternal and neonatal health outcomes,” she said.
“By amplifying the voices of the vulnerable and fostering dialogue among stakeholders, we can illuminate the path toward meaningful change.”
“Advocacy enables us to hold ourselves and our governments accountable for the commitments we make, ensuring that maternal, neonatal, and child health remain at the forefront of our national agenda.”
“Our partnerships across sectors—government, non-profits, civil society, and the private sector—are vital in creating a comprehensive and sustainable framework to improve health outcomes,” she added.
Earlier, the National Coordinator and Country Director of the Rotary Action Group on RMCH, Prof. Emmanuel Dolapo Lufadeju, explained that the goal of the advocacy workshop was to demand action, mobilize change, and ensure that every mother and child has access to quality healthcare, dignity, and life.
He highlighted the stark reality that approximately 58,000 women die annually from preventable pregnancy-related complications.
“This is a staggering number, considering that nearly 20% of all global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria—nearly 250,000 newborns die within their first month of life every year in our country.”
“Countless families suffer the devastating consequences of maternal and child mortality. We must strengthen our collective resolve to end preventable deaths and chart a course for sustainable progress.”
“We are grateful for the participation of the Presidency, through the office of the Senior Adviser to the President, Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim, the Federal Ministry of Health under the leadership of the Hon. Minister, Dr. Ali Pate, TA Connect, and all the stakeholders present here today.”
