The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has reaffirmed its leadership in driving the implementation of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), a groundbreaking strategy aimed at curbing the alarming rate of maternal deaths across Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the executive director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina emphasised that the initiative aligns closely with the 2025 World Health Day theme, “Enhancing the Health and Survival of Our Mothers and Newborns.” He described MAMII as a bold and unified national approach focused on strengthening Nigeria’s primary health care systems to ensure that maternal mortality becomes a tragedy of the past.
“Our mission at NPHCDA is to guarantee that every Nigerian, no matter their location or socioeconomic status, has access to quality and affordable primary health care services,” Aina stated. He underscored that MAMII represents a collaborative effort under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate. The initiative brings together the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and a wide range of critical stakeholders, including development partners.
Aina explained that MAMII’s implementation hinges on several key strategies: deploying skilled birth attendants across the country, improving the availability and quality of emergency obstetric care, expanding maternal health services through health insurance schemes and reinforcing primary health care facilities at the grassroots level.
He lamented Nigeria’s persistently high maternal mortality rate, which remains among the worst globally, with over 500 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. “This is unacceptable and it calls for immediate and innovative action. MAMII is our direct and urgent response to this crisis. It’s about saving lives and safeguarding the future of our nation,” he declared.
Experts and development partners have praised the initiative as a major step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which ensures that all individuals receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. Aina also highlighted that mechanisms for community engagement and accountability have been firmly embedded in the programme to promote its long-term success and sustainability.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Health Day, the NPHCDA head reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to prioritising maternal and child health. “No nation can truly prosper when its women continue to lose their lives while giving life,” he stressed.
MAMII, as the flagship national programme, is built around innovative, data-driven and community-focused interventions. Its core components include increasing the presence of skilled birth attendants at the primary health care level, enhancing emergency obstetric services and referral systems, integrating maternal health services into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and utilising digital technology and community engagement to monitor and respond effectively to maternal health risks.
With Nigeria contributing significantly to the global maternal mortality burden, the introduction of MAMII aims to reverse this trend decisively. By targeting preventable causes of maternal deaths and fostering a coordinated national response, MAMII holds the promise of transforming maternal health outcomes for Nigerian women and their families.
