The Federal Government says no fewer than 2.1 million pregnant women are now accessing antenatal care services under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The Coordinator of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, disclosed this during a media conference on ongoing health sector reforms, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Compact, and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) readiness.
Umar-Sadiq said the reforms were delivering measurable results across priority local government areas, addressing longstanding challenges in governance, infrastructure, accountability, and human resources.
“The point of this reform is to address some of the longstanding issues in the health sector, ranging from limited coordination and fragmentation to infrastructure and data gaps,” he said.
He emphasised that governance remains central to the reforms, noting that improving healthcare outcomes requires efficient organisation and stronger accountability mechanisms, not just increased funding.
“The right solutions are not necessarily about more money. Governance, how we organise the sector for delivery, and accountability frameworks are at the heart of addressing these issues,” he added.
Umar-Sadiq revealed that the Federal Government, in partnership with states, assessed 774 CEmONC facilities and identified critical gaps in infrastructure and equipment. As a result, 251 secondary health facilities will receive medical equipment to strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care in labour wards, theatres, and neonatal units.
He noted that the reforms are also tackling demand-side barriers through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), with support for reimbursement of Caesarean sections and treatment of obstetric complications. So far, 259 health facilities have been empanelled, and over 42,000 maternal and neonatal services reimbursed, including free Caesarean sections for more than 4,000 women and neonates.
Additionally, over 3,000 primary healthcare centres have been revitalised, while more than 3,000 Community Healthcare Workers have been recruited and deployed to underserved communities.
The coordinator said 172 local government areas, which account for nearly 55 per cent of maternal deaths, are currently being prioritised.
On sustainability, he explained that the reforms operate on a pay-for-results model, encouraging states to take ownership. A new health compact signed by all 36 states and the FCT clearly defines obligations, monitoring mechanisms, and performance indicators.
Umar-Sadiq added that quarterly performance reviews are being conducted, and the reforms are already yielding positive outcomes, including higher service utilisation, increased skilled birth attendance, and reduced facility-based maternal mortality.
He acknowledged challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers due to migration but noted that investments are being made to strengthen the workforce.
