Nigeria Rolls Out 215,000 MAMA Kits as FG Intensifies Push to Protect Mothers and Newborns
The Federal Government has handed out 215,000 MAMA kits, 40,000 maternal food-support packs and 40,000 newborn clothing sets to help curb preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Nigeria.
The intervention is part of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) which seeks to promote the uptake of antenatal, delivery and postnatal health services, particularly by pregnant women in underserved communities.
The government said the latest distribution is the second batch of MAMA kits after 110,000 kits were distributed in 2025. The support is designed to assist vulnerable families to get ready for childbirth and stay linked to vital health services.
The program is targeted at children to enhance the likelihood of a safe birth and healthy beginning. The government is aiming to reach approximately 2.9 million pregnant women and families by 2028 and reduce maternal mortality by 30 per cent and newborn mortality by 20 per cent.
According to Health Minister Ali Pate, MAMII encompasses emergency obstetric and newborn care, referral systems, transport and support for primary health care services.
The government also said that approximately 642,000 pregnant women were linked to health care providers in their communities and over 85,000 women were transported for emergency care. More than 93,000 women had reportedly benefited from free life-saving surgical procedures.
The World Health Organisation called on the authorities to ensure that material support is accompanied by operational health facilities, trained health workers and reliable referral systems.
Better data, funding and accountability are key to providing timely care to women and newborns in hard-to-reach communities, the WHO said.
