The Federal Government has rolled out a national intervention Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) designed to ensure that no woman dies during child birth.
The initiative, flagged off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mark World Health Day 2025 on Monday in Abuja, includes free health insurance for pregnant women, access to free cesarean sections, mama delivery kits, and transportation vouchers, among others.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the National Coordinator Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, explained that the initiative is a practical response to the President’s directive that “no woman should die as a result of childbirth.
He revealed that Nigeria currently contributes about 20 percent of global maternal deaths, a statistic that has driven the government’s resolve to take urgent action.
He said:“MAMII is not just a slogan.It is a comprehensive programme aimed at ensuring that every pregnancy results in a healthy baby and a healthy mother. From providing mama kits and starter packs to revitalizing health facilities and offering transport vouchers, this initiative touches every part of the journey to motherhood.”
He disclosed that the government had signed the Memorandum of Understanding with 66 Teaching Hospitals nationwide, making cesarean sections free of charge at those facilities.
Plans are underway, he added, to expand this free service to general hospitals, thereby decentralizing access and reducing pressure on tertiary centers.
“No woman should have to worry about the cost of delivery. Whether it’s a normal delivery or a cesarean section, it is covered. If you are asked for money, report it,” he stressed, urging women to always opt for facility-based deliveries rather than relying on traditional birth attendants.
The MAMII programme also integrates tracking mechanisms to follow up with every pregnant woman.
According to Dr. Adeyanju, any death will be reported and analyzed to identify and address the cause, whether it stems from delays in transportation, poor facility conditions, or community-level barriers.
“From the community to the tertiary hospital, we are building a chain of care to ensure that every woman is supported from conception to delivery and beyond,” he said. “No pregnancy is a private matter it is for all of us to care for and support.”
Speaking, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment at the FCTA, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, emphasized the importance of maternal and child health to Nigeria’s development.
“It is unfortunate that of every 100,000 women who give birth globally, about 397 die, and 70 percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria sadly leading that statistic,” she lamented.
She assured that the Renewed Hope Initiative championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu is focused on reversing the trend.
“Every pregnant woman in the FCT is entitled to free health insurance,” she announced. “And whether you give birth vaginally or via cesarean section, it is completely free.”
Dr. Fasawe praised the advocacy role of the media and urged journalists to amplify the message that maternal deaths are preventable.
She also called on pregnant women to partner with the government by keeping antenatal appointments, choosing safe facility-based deliveries, and completing postnatal care including vaccinations for newborns.
“This fight is not ours alone it’s also yours,” she said to the women in attendance. “We stand today because you, our pregnant women, are the guests of honour.”
The launch event served not only to commemorate World Health Day but also to symbolize a new era of “Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures” for Nigerian mothers and children. With states and local governments signing on to compacts that bind them to these health targets, both speakers emphasized that this is a nationwide mandate that must be fulfilled.
Besides, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed strong support for Nigeria’s renewed efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths through the Federal Government’s MAMII (Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative).
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, described the intervention as a vital step toward achieving “healthy beginnings and hopeful futures” for Nigerian children and mothers. “With interventions like the MAMII initiative, we are hopeful that every child will be born healthy, with the opportunity to grow, thrive, and prosper,” Dr. Mulombo said.
He commended the Nigerian government for offering free health insurance and delivery services to pregnant women, describing it as a move that will directly impact survival and well-being.
