Investing in Mothers Saves Children: SARMAAN Urges Stronger Maternal Care in Nigeria
LAGOS, Nigeria — Strengthening maternal care is essential to safeguarding children’s lives in Nigeria, experts say, as gaps in support before, during, and after childbirth continue to put young children at risk. Usman Aminu, Programme Officer of the SARMAAN Advocacy Team, warned that the survival of children largely depends on the care mothers receive throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period.
According to the latest Demographic and Health Survey, about 110 out of every 1,000 Nigerian children die before their fifth birthday, placing the country among those with the highest under-five mortality rates globally. Aminu noted that maternal and child health outcomes are closely linked, adding that healthy, well-supported mothers are more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding, complete immunization schedules, recognize danger signs, and seek timely care for their children.
“Once a safe delivery is recorded, the system often looks away. Families return to communities where clean water is scarce, clinics are distant or under-resourced, and preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria remain constant threats,” Aminu said.
The SARMAAN programme is addressing these gaps by supporting mothers in high-risk communities and expanding access to azithromycin for children aged one to 59 months. Evidence from the Sahel region shows that biannual administration of azithromycin can reduce child mortality by 14 to 18 percent in high-burden settings.
Aminu emphasized that treating maternal health and child survival as a continuous investment is critical. “Backing mothers through sustained programmes offers a practical way to close the deadly gap between a safe delivery and a child’s fifth birthday,” he said, urging Nigeria to scale up evidence-based interventions to protect children and reduce preventable deaths.
This approach highlights the intersection of maternal care and child protection, showing that safeguarding children begins with supporting the health and wellbeing of their mothers.
