• Initiative targets 2.9m pregnant women as Nigeria accounts for 29% global records

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off fresh incentives designed to increase the utilisation of maternal and newborn healthcare services across the country, as the federal government intensifies its campaign to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and babies.
   
Implemented under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), the initiative includes the distribution of 215,000 mama kits and bags, 40,000 maternal food support packs and 40,000 sets of essential newborn clothing to vulnerable pregnant women.

Speaking at the national flag-off yesterday in Abuja, the first lady said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child had a healthy start in life and that no woman lost her life while giving birth.
   
Mrs Tinubu stated that pregnancy and childbirth should be moments of “hope and joy,” noting, however, that social, economic, cultural and logistical barriers have continued to prevent many women from accessing quality maternal healthcare.
   
According to her, the maternal food support recognised the importance of a mother’s nutrition to a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery and healthy newborn, while the newborn clothing symbolised the government’s commitment to welcoming every Nigerian child “with dignity, warmth and care.
   
She said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare intends to extend the distribution of food support packs and essential newborn clothing to additional local government areas identified as having low uptake of MAMII incentives.
   
Such practical support, she noted, would encourage the less privileged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics, prepare adequately for delivery, and continue receiving essential care after birth.
   
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, said that Nigeria faces one of the world’s most severe maternal mortality crises.
   
Citing the 2023–24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Salako said a Nigerian woman faces approximately a one-in-19 lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes, compared with one in 4,900 in the world’s most developed countries.

He added that Nigeria accounts for close to 29 per cent of global maternal deaths, describing the situation as one of the country’s most sobering public health challenges.
   
He disclosed that MAMII, launched in November 2024, targets 172 local council areas across 33 states, representing only about 20 per cent of the country’s councils, but accounting for 55 per cent of maternal deaths.
   
Salako said the federal government is targeting a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and a 20 per cent reduction in neonatal mortality by 2028, with plans to reach 2.9 million pregnant women with free, timely and comprehensive care.
   
Also, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the government was addressing maternal mortality from both the supply and demand sides by strengthening primary healthcare facilities, providing skilled personnel and commodities, improving emergency referral systems and reducing financial barriers to care.