The Federal Government says it is rolling out a series of targeted interventions, including the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII), across 33 states to curb preventable deaths among mothers and newborns through improved primary healthcare delivery and emergency response systems.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, disclosed this at the 2026 International Day of the Midwife event in Abuja, where he was represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke.
He explained that the initiative is focused on strengthening community-based healthcare, expanding access to skilled birth attendance, and improving emergency obstetric care services nationwide.
According to him, more than 19,000 skilled birth attendants have been deployed, while midwifery training enrolment has increased significantly from about 28,000 to over 110,000. He added that new policy frameworks have also been introduced to reduce avoidable deaths and enhance emergency care delivery.
Pate noted that the government has launched the Nigeria Strategic Direction for Midwifery 2025–2030, a roadmap designed to improve training, expand workforce capacity, and strengthen leadership and service delivery within the midwifery profession.
He said ongoing reforms include the expansion of training institutions, increased student intake, and the modernisation of midwifery education to align with best practices, while also improving recruitment and deployment, particularly to rural and underserved areas.
The minister stressed that continuous professional development remains a priority, with investments in competency-based training and life-saving skills aimed at improving maternal and newborn outcomes.
He added that the MAMII programme is being directed at high-burden areas, noting that midwives remain central to achieving better maternal and child health results.
Pate also highlighted the global shortage of midwives, saying the theme of the year’s commemoration underscores the urgent need to scale up the workforce. He described midwives as essential frontline health workers who support mothers and children from pregnancy through childbirth and postnatal care, especially in remote communities.
He maintained that no health system can achieve optimal maternal and child health outcomes without an adequate number of trained midwives.
Also speaking, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Ndagi Alhassan, said strengthening the healthcare system requires investment in quality training, professional development, and leadership opportunities for midwives.
He called for improved working conditions, fair remuneration, and policies that allow midwives to function effectively and independently, stressing that empowered health workers contribute directly to reducing mortality and improving community health outcomes.
Alhassan noted that Nigeria continues to record high maternal and infant mortality rates, citing global health data indicating that the country accounts for a significant share of such deaths worldwide.
He urged sustained action beyond policy discussions, including expanded training opportunities and better welfare systems for healthcare workers.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Haruna Mamman, also highlighted shortages in the midwifery workforce, warning that staffing gaps are affecting service delivery in health facilities.
He called for increased investment in training and improved welfare conditions, noting that strengthening the midwifery workforce remains key to reducing maternal deaths across the country