By Fatima Saka
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has announced a significant 17 percent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 percent decline in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas targeted under the Maternal Accountability and Maternal Impact (MAMI) initiative.
Highlighting the Health Sector Reports Historic Progress, Pate described the progress as a clear indication that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in maternal and child health are yielding measurable results.
Speaking at a ministerial press briefing ahead of the 2025 Joint Annual Health Sector Review and the National Council on Health meeting, the Coordinating Minister noted “I hope the media is paying close attention to this. For MAMI, the effort to crush maternal mortality in the 172 local governments that accounted for more than half of maternal deaths in Nigeria, we’ve seen a 17% reduction in maternal deaths and a 12% reduction in newborn deaths,” Pate said. “This shows that it can be done.”
The Minister revealed that 435 health facilities have been revitalized in those LGAs, with over 15,000 community based health workers recruited and trained. He added that skilled birth attendance and cesarean section rates have both improved significantly, with more than 4,000 C-sections conducted in NHIA empaneled Comprehensive Maternal and Newborn Care (CMONC) facilities.
According to Pate, the review, anchored on the theme “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light”, serves as a national accountability framework to measure progress, identify gaps, and set a unified direction for improved health outcomes.
He further disclosed that Nigeria has met 37 out of 41 key performance indicators (KPIs) in the health sector under the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. In addition, 35 out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have conducted their own performance reviews, with 100% of states aligning their operational plans to the federal health sector blueprint.
The Minister also highlighted notable improvements in antenatal care and family planning coverage, with antenatal care attendance (ANC4) rising to 56% in 2025 and modern contraceptive use reaching 50% among women of reproductive age.
“Primary healthcare utilization has grown almost four-fold,from 10 million in early 2024 to 45 million visits in the second quarter of 2025,” Pate noted. “This is proof that the collective effort of states, local governments, private sector, and civil society is translating into real impact.”
The Minister cited results from recent citizens’ perception surveys, which show growing public confidence in the government’s health programs, rising from 42% in 2024 to nearly 50% in 2025, while 77% of Nigerians now express positive views about the health system’s trajectory.
Pate, however, cautioned that while the progress is promising, challenges remain in ensuring financial sustainability, expanding health insurance coverage, and improving affordability of care.
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He reaffirmed that the federal government, in collaboration with states, local governments, and partners, remains determined to consolidate the gains and sustain momentum towards achieving universal health coverage.
“We are not out of the woods yet,” “But with discipline, accountability, and sustained collaboration, the health outcomes of our population will continue to improve, and the world will take notice,” professor Pate added.
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