FG, Lagos seeks effective ways to curb maternal, infant deaths

The Lagos State Government has partner the Federal Ministry of Health and other development partners a for five-day Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) activation workshop aimed at developing a coordinated plan to tackle preventable maternal and infant deaths in the state.

Declaring the workshop open on Monday at Protea Hotel, Alausa, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the government was concerned about the persistent maternal and infant mortality and is determined to address the peculiar factors contributing to the problem within the state.

Abayomi explained that Lagos, despite being perceived as a well-resourced state, still faces challenges due to its dense population and rapid migration.

“The moment you cross into Lagos, you become the responsibility of the government—and if you have a health issue, you become my responsibility,” he said.

He added that the government was interrogating its health data to determine the true magnitude of the problem, acknowledging that even with better infrastructure and human resources than other states, Lagos must do more to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare.

“We are working to ensure Lagos becomes a state with both eyes open, not a one-eyed giant among the blind,” he added.

The Commissioner disclosed that the government was upgrading 47 of the state’s 327 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) this year and addressing ward-level inequalities in PHC distribution to improve accessibility.

He added that Lagos was also tackling human resource shortages through the proposed University of Medicine and Health Sciences, which aims to produce up to 3,000 health professionals annually within five years.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, described maternal and child mortality as a critical public health issue that requires coordinated action.

Ogunyemi noted that while Lagos attracts over 3,000 new residents daily, the constant influx strains existing healthcare infrastructure. She stressed the need for improved coordination among partners, stronger data systems, and better nutrition interventions, describing malnutrition as a silent contributor to child mortality.

Presenting an overview of the MAMII strategy, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, the National MAMII Lead, explained that the initiative forms part of Nigeria’s National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), targeting a 30% reduction in maternal mortality and a 60% increase in facility utilization in high-burden areas by 2030.

He said the strategy focuses on addressing the first and second delays in maternal care and improving the quality of care through structured resource allocation, performance management, and multi-sector collaboration. Adeyanju added that MAMII would rely on data-driven, context-specific interventions that reflect the realities of each community.

The workshop, which will run till Friday, October 10, 2025, brings together policymakers, development partners, healthcare providers, and community representatives to co-create strategies that will ensure safer motherhood and childhood across Lagos State.