The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office have taken a significant step towards addressing maternal mortality in Nigeria by convening a strategic meeting aimed at advancing the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project.
Held in Abuja, the meeting focused on enhancing collaboration, defining key responsibilities, and developing an effective implementation strategy for the project. The initiative aims to improve maternal health services and reduce preventable deaths among pregnant women.
During the meeting, director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri highlighted the importance of utilising health insurance schemes to enhance access, affordability, and quality of maternal healthcare. He emphasised that sustainable financing mechanisms will be crucial for the long-term success of the initiative.
Ohiri noted that integrating the MAMII Project into NHIA’s health insurance framework would enable more pregnant women, particularly in underserved communities, to access essential maternal care without financial burden.
According to Science Nigeria, the next step will involve finalising the operational roadmap for the rollout of MAMII. This includes enhancing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and impact, as well as engaging key stakeholders – such as healthcare providers, policymakers, and donors – to ensure a coordinated approach.
Experts who spoke with journalists at the event welcomed this collaboration, stating that reducing financial barriers through health insurance is vital to addressing Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate.
It is worth noting that the MAMII Project is expected to make a significant contribution to the country’s maternal health goals under the Sustainable Financing for Health framework.
