Nigeria launches policies to end maternal deaths

The Federal Government has unveiled a set of national policies and guidelines aimed at transforming maternal health outcomes across Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja during the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day commemoration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, declared that no woman should die while giving life, emphasising that safe childbirth must become a national guarantee—not a gamble.

Delivering his keynote address on the theme ‘Innovating for Safer Birth: A Collective Responsibility to Crash Maternal Mortality’, Professor Pate urged all stakeholders in the health sector to take decisive action in safeguarding mothers and newborns.

“No woman should die giving life, and no child should be born into preventable suffering,” the Minister stated. “Safe motherhood is not merely a health agenda—it is a moral imperative and a critical measure of our national progress.”

A major highlight of the event was the launch of six national policy and training documents designed to standardise care and strengthen maternal health services nationwide. These include:

Safe Motherhood Strategy (2024–2028) – a national roadmap to reduce maternal deaths

Guidelines for the Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)

Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Guidelines

Essential Gynaecological Skills Manuals

RMNCAEH+N Quality of Care Strategy

National Training Manual on Obstetric Fistula Management

“These documents reflect our government’s commitment to building a resilient, people-centred health system that anticipates and prevents maternal and newborn emergencies,” Professor Pate explained.

He also highlighted key achievements under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, including:

Strengthened primary healthcare services

Expanded access to skilled birth attendants

Free fistula care at 15 centres

Scale-up of comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmONC)

Broader health insurance coverage

Emergency medical services now operational in 23 states

“These reforms are already resulting in improved health indicators in several states,” he added, affirming the government’s dedication to ensuring maternal care reaches the most vulnerable populations.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, emphasised that Safe Motherhood Day is not only a time for reflection but also a call to action and renewed collaboration.

“Maternal mortality is not just a statistic—it’s a personal tragedy and a call to strengthen our systems,” she said. “Our slogan, ‘Care for Mums, Hope for the Babies’, reminds us that the health of mothers is the foundation of healthier generations.”

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to respectful, inclusive, and accessible maternal health care, particularly in underserved rural communities.

As Nigeria marks Safe Motherhood Day 2025, the message resonates clearly: through sustained commitment, innovation, and unified efforts, the nation can become one where no woman dies while giving life, and every child is born into safety and dignity.

Ifeoma Nwovu