From April 28–30, 2026, TAConnect hosted a three-day national stakeholders’ meeting at its country office in Abuja to finalize and validate the National Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Policy, bringing Nigeria closer to a stronger, more responsive reproductive health system.
The meeting convened key government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), alongside partners such as PPFN, CHAI, Jhpiego, PSI, and TAConnect. It was built on earlier technical engagements, including a validation meeting held in Kano in March 2026, where TAConnect participated as part of a technical working group supporting the policy refinement process.
For Dr. Samuel Oyeniyi, Director and Head of the Reproductive Health Division at the FMoH, the need for an updated policy is urgent. With the previous SRH policy having expired in 2021, he noted that Nigeria’s health landscape has significantly evolved. “There are a lot of emerging and reemerging issues… in coordination, partnerships, commodity access, capacity building, and even data management,” he said, emphasizing that a revised policy is critical to reflect current realities.
Over the three days, stakeholders conducted a comprehensive review of the policy, focusing on service delivery frameworks, coordination mechanisms, and alignment with national strategies. The revised document introduces key updates, including a stronger coordination framework, provisions for local production of health commodities, and integration of priority initiatives such as MAMII. It also incorporates inclusive provisions for vulnerable populations and reflects new evidence-based approaches to managing maternal health complications, including postpartum haemorrhage.
TAConnect played a central role throughout the process, providing technical and convening support in collaboration with partners. Funded by the Gates Foundation, TAConnect is supporting the Safe Motherhood Branch of the FMoH to strengthen leadership, coordination, and oversight for scaling maternal and newborn health innovations. This broader support has contributed to key national achievements, including the expansion of state-level family health structures and improved forecasting and quantification of MNH commodities.
Dr. Oyeniyi acknowledged the impact of this partnership, noting that sustained support has been instrumental in advancing national maternal and newborn health priorities. “We couldn’t have been where we are… without that support,” he said, highlighting its role in driving implementation of critical frameworks such as the Every Newborn Action Plan and Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality agenda.
With the Abuja meeting concluded, the policy will undergo final validation before submission for approval by the Honourable Minister of Health and national dissemination.
The finalization of the National SRH Policy represents more than a technical milestone; it provides a clear, coordinated framework to guide reproductive health service delivery in Nigeria. In a context where reproductive health outcomes remain central to maternal and newborn survival, strengthening the policy environment is essential for ensuring that interventions are aligned, evidence-based, and delivered at scale.
