Health experts have urged the Nigerian government to adopt sustainable financing strategies to scale up maternal and child health interventions, warning that the country risks stagnation without urgent reforms and coordinated action.
The call was made on Monday during a webinar organised by Development Governance International Consult (DGI Consult) with the theme: “Financing Maternal and Child Death-Crashing Interventions: Achieving Scale, Scope and Sustainability for Impact.”
The session explored innovative funding mechanisms to strengthen the government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII).
Dr. Gafar Alawode, Chief Executive Officer of DGI Consult, said Nigeria’s maternal and child health interventions over the past two decades have been “fragmented and siloed,” addressing parts of the problem rather than the whole.
“The MAMII initiative seeks to bridge gaps through integrated, large-scale approaches,” he said.
Prof. Charles Ameh of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine lamented that Nigeria had “remained in the very high mortality phase for two decades,” urging increased investment, equitable health workforce distribution, and the adoption of digital innovations.
Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, Lead of the MAMII Initiative, explained that the programme targets 172 local government areas that account for more than half of maternal deaths nationwide.
He listed key strategies, including enrolling more women in health insurance schemes, expanding emergency obstetric care, integrating traditional birth attendants into formal referral systems, and deploying community emergency transport supported by digital platforms.
“This ensures quick responses to complications, ultimately saving more mothers’ and children’s lives,” Adeyanju said.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, shared lessons from his state, highlighting health insurance expansion, stronger supply chains, and data-driven policy reviews as proven reforms.
He urged other states to replicate these successes.
Dr. Olufunke Fasawe of the Clinton Health Access Initiative stressed the need for integrated approaches that combine skilled workforce training with broader system-wide interventions to reduce maternal and child deaths.
UNICEF representative, Dr. Sachin Bhokare, called for stronger government capacity in planning, budgeting, and tracking health expenditures.
“Sustainable financing must focus on expanding health insurance coverage for poor households while ensuring accountability and transparency in spending,” he said.
Chief Moji Makanjuola, Chair of the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum, emphasised the role of civil society in amplifying community voices and demanding accountability.
“Citizen engagement is critical to making health a political priority. Communities must be included in decision-making to ensure policies reflect real healthcare needs,” she said.
The meeting brought together government officials, academics, civil society, and development partners to discuss evidence-based strategies for sustaining maternal and child health programmes.
It ended with a call for Nigeria to embrace sustainable financing, strengthen governance, and scale up proven interventions to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths.
“Maternal and child health affects everyone. Only through coordinated, well-financed, and accountable interventions can Nigeria achieve measurable progress,” participants concluded.