Health advocates in Nigeria are calling on the government, development partners, and the public to prioritize investment in midwives as a key strategy to eliminate preventable maternal deaths.
The call was made by the Advocacy and Implementation of Maternal, Newborn, Child Nutrition and Health Innovations (AIM MNCNH) in Nigeria, in a statement released on Monday to mark the 2025 International Day of the Midwife. The advocacy group is led by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), in collaboration with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Pathfinder International Nigeria, and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI).
The group emphasized that midwives are not only caregivers but vital frontline responders in maternal emergencies, particularly in addressing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)—the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country.
Despite the existence of global and national strategies to tackle maternal mortality, the group noted that these efforts have yet to deliver tangible improvements at the community level.
Amina Dorayi, Senior Country Director of Pathfinder International Nigeria, stressed the need to go beyond symbolic gestures. “Midwives must not be celebrated only in words,” she said. “They are not just health workers—they are lifelines.”
