Nigeria requires an additional N720bn to adequately fund interventions aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths, the National Lead of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, has said.
He stated this during a maternal health roundtable organised by Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja, with the theme, “Investing in Mothers: Aligning Finance, Policy and Innovation for Improved Maternal Outcomes,” according to presentation slides made available to our correspondent on Monday.
This comes as stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector called for increased domestic investment in maternal and newborn healthcare, warning that inadequate financing, poor budget implementation and weak accountability continue to fuel the country’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
Speaking at the event, Adeyanju said Nigeria’s 2025 National Annual Operational Plan for the health sector was estimated at N3.68tn, comprising N1.7tn in government funding and N1.25tn from development partners, leaving a N720bn financing gap.
According to him, the largest share of the health budget, about 87.9 per cent, was dedicated to strengthening efficient, equitable and quality health systems, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
