Nigeria marked Safe Motherhood Week 2026, reaffirming its commitment to closing persistent gaps in the quality, equity, and effectiveness of maternal and newborn health services.
In support of this agenda, TAConnect, funded by the Gates Foundation, is providing technical assistance to the Safe Motherhood Branch of the Federal Ministry of Health. This support strengthens leadership, coordination, and oversight to scale up maternal and newborn health innovations under the Safe Motherhood Strategy (2024–2028). It also accelerates priority interventions, strengthens data-driven decision-making, improves progress tracking, and supports the alignment of key policies and guidelines, including those addressing postpartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia, and essential maternal and newborn care packages. The partnership further reinforces national coordination and performance review platforms to ensure cohesive and accountable implementation.
Speaking at the commemoration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare emphasized that while access to maternal health services has improved, gaps remain in the quality, timeliness, and equity of care. With the theme “Closing the Gap: From Coverage to Quality Care for Every Mother” and the slogan “Care That Saves. Systems That Deliver,” he called for stronger systems that ensure every woman receives safe, evidence-based care.

He highlighted the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII), now active in 32 states, as a key driver of targeted interventions to reduce maternal and newborn deaths through strengthened emergency obstetric and newborn care, improved referral systems, and expanded service delivery.
The Minister also noted progress under the National Health Insurance Authority’s expansion of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services, alongside strengthened emergency transport systems under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System/ Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (NEMSAS/RESMAT[OA3.1]), reaching tens of thousands of women and newborns nationwide.
New national tools were also launched to improve the quality of care, including updated clinical protocols, revised antenatal care guidelines, life-saving skills training packages, and a coordinated maternal and newborn commodity introduction plan aimed at standardizing care and strengthening provider capacity.

TAConnect remains committed to working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and other partners to translate national priorities into effective implementation. Through sustained technical assistance, the partnership continues to strengthen systems, improve coordination, and support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate reductions in maternal and newborn mortality and ensure that every woman receives safe, quality care.