Nigeria Health Watch, working alongside ACIOE Foundation and backed by MSD for Mothers, has unveiled the second phase of the Maternal Health Advocacy and Communications (MHAC) Project. Spanning 24 months, this initiative seeks to promote policy changes, strategic messaging, and long-term funding for proven maternal health programs throughout the country.
This latest stage expands upon the groundwork laid in the first phase, which involved national and local stakeholders in Ekiti, Kaduna, and Lagos. The upcoming work will concentrate on converting data from MSD for Mothers-supported efforts into firmer policy promises, wider institutional acceptance, lasting funding, and broader scale.
Maternal Health Challenges in Nigeria
Nigeria remains confronted with serious maternal health obstacles, marked by ongoing shortages in health funding, care standards, and fair access to vital services. Although vital government reforms are taking place, achieving lasting gains in maternal health will depend on better enforcement of current pledges and deeper embedding of effective interventions.
Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, noted that the subsequent phase of the MHAC Project centers on turning evidence into action. Their goal is to see promising innovations and methods shift from being stand-alone pilots to becoming part of government structures, funded sustainably and woven into the frameworks that determine how maternal healthcare is delivered to families nationwide.
Project Objectives
During Phase 2, Nigeria Health Watch will oversee the communication duties, while ACIOE Foundation will head the advocacy efforts. The collaboration will target policy and financial priorities in several maternal health areas, including digital health, quality improvement, financing, and the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.
The undertaking will assist in integrating mDoc’s findings on AI-driven maternal healthcare into digital health policy and execution, mainly within Lagos and Ekiti States. It will also aid in institutionalizing and expanding Project Aisha’s Quality Improvement model for maternal care from Lagos into Kaduna and Kano.
Furthermore, the scheme will boost campaigns for higher public and private funding via the Maternal Health Fund in Lagos and Kano. It will also support PACS in obtaining regulatory approval for its Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMV) Accreditation Programme.
Communications and Advocacy
Acting as the communications lead, Nigeria Health Watch intends to utilize its channels and expertise to highlight evidence, improve public and policy dialogue regarding maternal health, and raise the profile of MSD for Mothers’ partners.
The team will utilize strategic events, such as the Future of Health Conference, a Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala, health roundtables, and other major national and international meetings. These gatherings aim to unite policymakers, implementers, private sector players, professional groups, and civil society around shared priorities for maternal health.
With Phase 2 now active, Nigeria Health Watch and ACIOE Foundation will collaborate with MSD for Mothers’ partners and various stakeholders to turn evidence into policy, boost accountability, and support a system where women can obtain quality maternal care whenever and wherever required.
