By Doris Obinna and Merit Ibe
Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRHC), has launched MamaBase 0 to combat maternal mortality in Nigeria. It aims to reach 15,000 vulnerable women over the next 12 months.
MamaBase Impact Report, Executive Director, MRHC, Dr. Olajumoke Oke, said the initiative was developed in response to alarming figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), which recorded 82,000 pregnancy-related deaths in Nigeria in 2020, with a reduction to 75,000 in 2023.
“MamaBase is a data-driven intervention that identifies and supports the most vulnerable pregnant women especially those from low-income households from pregnancy until six weeks after delivery,” Oke said.
According to her, the first phase of the project, which ended in November 2024, recorded 7,883 registered pregnant women, resulting in 7,467 births and 144 emergency interventions. Phase two, which began in 2025, targets 5,000 women in Lagos and 10,000 in Kaduna State.
“Childbirth is not a death sentence,” she emphasized, adding that the MamaBase model, known as ‘MILES for Mothers,’ is a five-step framework: Mapping, Identifying, Linking, Educating, and Supporting. This approach ensures continuous engagement and follow-up for enrolled women.
She noted that through MamaBase, 60 per cent of the women completed the recommended four antenatal visits, and the programme recorded a 99.9 per cent survival rate among participants.
Oke also stressed the importance of community involvement. “We engage local stakeholders, community leaders, religious leaders, and women leaders to ensure grassroots participation and encourage male involvement.”
She called for more collaboration with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, to expand the programme’s reach and impact. “We worked closely with the Primary Health Care Board, Ministry of Health, and other partners. Collective effort is essential,” she added.
Chief Operating Officer, MRHC, Funmi Owosho, highlighted the need for greater awareness and access to health insurance schemes. “While some progress has been made, many people are still unaware of the available resources. We need more infrastructure like ambulances and functional emergency lines.”
Also, Director, Medical Services and Disease Control, Lagos State Health District Five, Dr. Ahmad-Bello Amina, echoed this, urging for stronger partnerships to improve the primary healthcare system. “No woman should die due to preventable healthcare issues. Everyone has a role to play.”
Sterling One Foundation, David Lawal, praised the initiative, stating that MamaBase has shown that grassroots tracking of maternal health can drive real change. “This is a call to action,” he said.
MRHC’s Senior Data Manager, Dr. Lekan Olagunju, reaffirmed that the data-driven approach was crucial to ensuring no woman is left behind. “With Nigeria still facing one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, the MamaBase project presents a promising model for sustainable change in maternal healthcare delivery.”