Lagos Govt’s MamaBase initiative saves 7,800 lives, sets new standard in maternal health
The Lagos State Government has recorded a major success with its MamaBase initiative, which reportedly saved over 7,800 women in 2024 alone.
The achievement places Lagos at the forefront of maternal health interventions in Nigeria, a country where maternal deaths remain alarmingly high.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 79,500 Nigerian women died from childbirth-related causes in 2023, accounting for nearly 29 percent of global maternal deaths. As one of Nigeria’s most densely populated states, Lagos was considered especially at risk.
Founder and Chairman of the Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) Collective, Professor Bosede Afolabi, disclosed these figures during a briefing.
She hailed the MamaBase programme as a “groundbreaking maternal health initiative” co-developed by public health experts at MRH Collective and the Lagos State Government.
“This initiative was built on the M.I.L.E.S. framework, Mapping, Identifying, Linking, Educating, and Supporting, to ensure that vulnerable pregnant women are not only identified early but connected to antenatal and delivery care while receiving sustained support throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period,” Afolabi explained.
She praised the government’s collaboration and commitment, stating: “Our goal was to stay with every woman from start to finish, and what we’re particularly happy about is that the Lagos State Government were a willing and able partner in every facet of our journey. And the results speak for themselves.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration was lauded for consistently demonstrating a commitment to inclusive healthcare. Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health to the Governor, reiterated that MamaBase aligns squarely with the administration’s goal of building “a more inclusive, resilient health system—one that prioritises preventive care, strengthens primary healthcare, and ensures that no woman is left behind during pregnancy and childbirth.”
With success firmly recorded, the Lagos State Government is now working with its partners to expand the MamaBase programme to 12 new local government areas.
Dr. Ogunyemi added, “We are proud to be a part of developing this model that will potentially save the lives of many women, not just in Lagos, but across the entire country.”
