Health Sector Reforms Yield results: Maternal, Newborn Deaths Plummet
The Federal Government has announced a notable achievement in Nigeria’s health sector reforms, with a 17% reduction in maternal deaths and a 12% decline in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja Tuesday, highlighting major upcoming events of the Ministry.
He stated that the Joint Annual Review (JAR) scheduled for November 12th -14th would assess the nation’s health performance, renew accountability commitments, and strengthen collaboration between federal, state, and local governments under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Prof. Pate applauded the sector’s performance, noting that 37 out of 41 key performance indicators (KPIs) under the presidential health reform commitments have been achieved. He attributed the strides to stronger alignment between national and sub-national actors.
The Coordinating Minister further highlighted the progress made in the health sector, noting that 774 National Health Fellows have been deployed across all local governments, while 35 out of 36 states and the FCT have conducted their own performance reviews, with citizens’ participation in health decision-making.
He reported significant improvements in maternal and reproductive health indicators, including higher antenatal care attendance, skilled birth deliveries, and family planning uptake. According to him, utilization of primary healthcare facilities under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has also seen a remarkable surge, rising from 10 million visits in early 2024 to 45 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting growing public trust in government health services.
“New family planning acceptors have increased by 10% since the beginning of the year, and 50% of women of reproductive age are now using modern contraceptives,” the Minister noted. He also highlighted the revitalization of over 435 health facilities in high-priority local governments and the recruitment of more than 15,000 community-based health workers.
A citizens’ confidence survey cited by Prof Pate shows that 77% of Nigerians now view the health system positively, up from 54% in 2024, while the proportion confident in the government’s capacity to manage health emergencies has risen from half to two-thirds of the population.
However, the Coordinating Minister cautioned that challenges persist, particularly around financing and affordability of care. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said, emphasizing the need for expanded health insurance coverage and prudent resource use at all levels to sustain progress.
“The fact that we’re able to now, with two-year data, tell a story that is showing beginnings of an improvement is a testament to the efforts being made,” Prof Pate said. “If we can sustain it between the federal government and our states, local government, and every actor over time, then the health outcomes of our population will certainly improve.”
The Minister urged media practitioners to “sharpen their pens” and actively participate in covering the 2025 Joint Annual Review, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light,” which will feature spotlight sessions on maternal mortality reduction (MAMI), health governance, local manufacturing of life sciences products, and expenditure reviews.
Emphasizing that the signs of progress are real and data-backed, Prof Pate added, “If we sustain this momentum, Nigeria’s health outcomes will not only improve but will become a model for the continent.”
