The Federal Government of Nigeria says it has met all 41 health‑sector targets and recorded a 60 % decline in maternal deaths in the areas covered by its new health initiative.
According to the government’s statement, the initiative is intended to strengthen maternal health services, improve access to skilled birth attendance and enhance emergency obstetric care in the targeted regions.
Nigeria has long struggled with high maternal mortality, ranking among the world’s most affected countries. A reduction of this magnitude, if verified, would represent a notable improvement in a sector that has been a priority for successive administrations.
The government linked the reported drop to progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which calls for a global reduction in the maternal mortality ratio. Officials said the achievement reflects coordinated efforts across federal, state and local health agencies.
Independent health analysts note that while the figures are encouraging, external verification and detailed data will be needed to confirm the extent of the decline and to assess how the gains can be sustained and expanded nationwide.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>