Background
Maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes remain a major public health priority, especially where timely information, access to care, and financial inclusion are limited.
The burden of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) mortality and morbidity remains unacceptably high, with critical opportunities to improve survival and well-being still underutilized. Globally, over 700 women died every day in 2023 from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes. Most of these deaths were avoidable with timely, quality care.
Nigeria bears a disproportionate share of this crisis. The country records the highest number of maternal deaths worldwide, approximately 82,000 annually, accounting for nearly 20% of global maternal deaths despite having only about 3% of the world's population. The maternal mortality ratio stands at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, among the highest globally.
Child survival outcomes are equally alarming. Nigeria records approximately 800,000 child deaths each year, nearly one in six of all global child deaths. The infant mortality rate is 74.2 per 1,000 live births, almost three times the global average. Stark regional disparities persist, with mortality rates in the North-West and North-East regions up to 2 to 3 times higher than the national average.
Despite being Africa's largest economy, access to quality healthcare in Nigeria remains deeply inequitable. Progress is constrained by a complex interplay of lack of access to accurate health information, restrictive gender norms, limited financial access, weak health systems, chronic health underfunding and poor utilization of essential maternal and child health services.
