At the Global Health Summit, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has unveiled a suite of transformative, scalable innovations aimed at drastically improving maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes, signaling a bold commitment to reversing the country’s high mortality rates.
This assertion was made by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during a high-level panel at the margin of 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday.
The event, themed “Innovate to Scale: Bending the Curve on Health MNCH SDGs”, brought together global health leaders to chart a path forward toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Salako acknowledged the stark reality that global efforts are falling short of the 2030 targets for maternal and child survival. “The lives of women and children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, continue to be lost needlessly due to preventable causes,” he said. “Our actions must reflect the truth that maternal and newborn deaths are preventable.”
At the heart of Nigeria’s strategy is the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), launched in 2024 as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to treat the health of all Nigerians as an urgent matter of right.
MAMII, according to him, targets the 172 local government areas that account for over half of Nigeria’s maternal deaths, utilizing data-driven interventions, digital technologies, emergency transport innovations, and community-based approaches to close gaps in care.
“Pregnant women are line-listed and linked to facilities through community structures,” Dr. Salako explained. “Delivery at health facilities is incentivized with kits containing essential items for mothers and newborns.”
The Minister also highlighted the Safer Births Initiative, a collaboration integrating life-saving tools like fetal heart monitors and newborn resuscitation devices with simulation-based training to improve emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
Crucially, Nigeria’s approach prioritizes cultural sensitivity and grassroots involvement. Traditional birth attendants are being engaged as partners, while community and religious leaders help foster trust and encourage positive health-seeking behaviors.
Looking to the future, Dr. Salako revealed plans to expand these innovations using AI-powered mobile ultrasound technology and deepen investment in primary health care systems. “We are not just innovating for impact,” he said, “we are institutionalizing what works, scaling it sustainably, and making sure it reaches those who need it most.”
The Minister concluded with a call for global cooperation: “The journey ahead demands solidarity, evidence-based solutions, and courageous leadership. Let us bend the curve for every mother, every newborn, and every child.”
Signed
Alaba Balogun
Deputy Director
Information & Public Relations
21 May 2025
