Nigeria has unveiled a new national strategy to expand its midwifery workforce through 2030, aiming to address critical healthcare gaps in rural areas and reduce the country's high maternal mortality rate. The plan was announced by the Federal Ministry of Health on May 6, 2026, according to a press release from the ministry.
The strategy focuses on training, deploying, and retaining midwives in underserved communities, where access to skilled birth attendants is limited. Nigeria currently has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, as reported by the World Health Organization in 2023.
Key components of the plan include increasing the number of midwifery training institutions, providing scholarships and incentives for students, and improving working conditions for midwives in rural posts. The government aims to deploy at least 10,000 additional midwives by 2030, according to the ministry's statement.
The initiative is part of Nigeria's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which targets reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. The plan also aligns with the African Union's Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).
Health experts have welcomed the strategy but caution that sustained funding and political will are essential for its success. The Nigerian government has allocated 50 billion naira (approximately $120 million) for the first phase of the program, according to the budget document reviewed by Reuters.
