Nigeria reduces maternal case fatality rate by 60 per cent in supported facilities

The Nigerian government reported a 60 per cent reduction in maternal case fatality rates in health facilities supported by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) between 2024 and September 2026.

Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, the National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office, shared these findings during a health sector review in Abuja. The decline from 80.5 to 31.9 moved past the government’s original goal of a 30 per cent reduction.

The government achieved these results through coordinated reforms to improve healthcare financing, service quality, and access to maternal care. These measures included strengthening primary healthcare facilities, expanding emergency medical transportation, and improving the availability of medical supplies. The data covers 8,309 BHCPF-supported facilities and was validated through telephone surveys and physical assessments.

While these specific facilities saw major improvements, John Ovuoraye, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, noted that maternal deaths remain a concern across the country. He reported 3,273 maternal deaths in health facilities in 2026, down from approximately 5,000 in 2024. Umar-Sadiq noted that the country still faces challenges including a shortage of skilled health workers and gaps in emergency obstetric care.

The next phase of reforms will focus on recruiting and keeping skilled medical personnel and expanding successful interventions to underserved areas.