A reproductive health solutions group, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), has urged government on all levels in Nigeria to enhance the standard of care available for mothers and newborns.
The group issued this appeal in a statement marking the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day, themed: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
Highlighting the high maternal and infant mortality rates in the country, the statement read: “Safe motherhood begins long before the first contraction—it starts with informed choices, timely access to family planning, and a community that supports women at every stage of their reproductive journey.”
According to the statement, thousands of women in Nigeria die each year from pregnancy-related complications, many of which could be prevented through adequate child spacing and voluntary family planning.
Read Also: 2025 Motherhood Day: TCI Calls for Increased Investment in Family Planning
Taiwo Johnson, the Country Team Lead for TCI Nigeria, elaborated on the issue of maternal and infant mortality in the country, urging collective efforts to address its alarming prevalence.
Johnson explained that TCI was introduced in Nigeria to complement government efforts in reducing maternal morbidity and child mortality by providing reproductive health solutions to those in need.
She further noted that TCI’s innovative “business unusual” model places local governments at the forefront of scaling up reproductive health solutions for women of childbearing age, ensuring greater effectiveness.
The team lead, who acknowledged the positive outcomes of collaborations between state governments and TCI, urged the government to intensify efforts, particularly for those in remote and underserved communities.
She stated, “At the heart of this progress is The Challenge Initiative (TCI)—a proven model that empowers local governments to sustainably scale reproductive health solutions.
“In partnership with over a dozen state governments, TCI is making motherhood safer, families healthier, and futures brighter.”
Onche Odeh, the Project Lead at Development Communications Network, emphasised that safe motherhood extends beyond hospital visits, requiring support and access to safe reproductive health solutions for pregnant women.
He remarked: “The path to safe motherhood is not solely paved in hospitals. It begins with conversation, choice, and community support.”
Odeh concluded that with increasing political will, sustainable funding, and grassroots engagement, Nigeria could transform safe motherhood from an aspiration into a reality in the near future.
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