Health experts have called for sustainable financing strategies to expand maternal and child health interventions in Nigeria, 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.

The session explored financing options to strengthen the government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives.

DGI Consult CEO Gafar Alawode noted that for two decades, Nigeria’s efforts had been fragmented and “siloed, addressing pieces instead of the whole”.

According to him, the MAMII initiative seeks to bridge gaps through integrated, large-scale approaches.

Charles Ameh of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine observed that Nigeria had “stagnated in the very high mortality phase for two decades”. Mr Ameh urged greater investment, an equitable distribution of the health workforce, and the adoption of digital innovations.

The lead of the MAMII Initiative, Dayo Adeyanju, explained that the programme targeted 172 local government areas that accounted for over half of maternal deaths in the country.

According to him, strategies include health insurance enrollment, improved emergency obstetric care, integration of traditional birth attendants into referral systems, and the use of community emergency transport backed by digital platforms.

“This ensures quick responses to complications and saving more mothers’ and children’s lives,” he said.

Ekiti’s health commissioner, Oyebanji Filani, highlighted lessons from governance reforms in his state, including health insurance expansion, supply chain strengthening, and routine data-driven reviews. Mr Filani urged the replication of such successful strategies across other Nigerian states.

Olufunke Fasawe of the Clinton Health Access Initiative restated the need for integrated approaches that combine skilled workforce training with broader system-wide interventions to reduce maternal and child deaths.

UNICEF’s representative, Sachin Bhokare, stated the need to enhance government capacity for planning, budgeting, and monitoring health spending. He called for the integration of child health into national budgets as a priority.

According to him, sustainable financing should focus on expanding health insurance coverage for poor households, while ensuring accountability and transparency in expenditure.

“Health investments are crucial to preventing maternal and child deaths nationwide,” Mr Bhokare said.

Moji Makanjuola, the chair of the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum, said civil service organisations amplified community voices and demanded accountability for improved maternal and child survival.

“Citizen engagement is critical in making health a political priority, stressing that communities must be included in decision-making to ensure policies reflect people’s real healthcare needs,” he said.

The meeting brought together government leaders, academics, civil society organisations, and development partners to discuss evidence-based solutions for sustaining maternal and child health interventions.

It ended with a call for Nigeria to embrace sustainable financing, strengthen governance, and scale up proven strategies, stressing the urgency of reducing preventable maternal and child deaths nationwide.

(NAN)