By HeapNews
As Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) is convening a critical Fireside Chat to tackle the question many are afraid to ask: “Why are so many Nigerian mothers still dying?”
With the theme “Breaking Barriers to Maternal Health Equity: The Role of Health Insurance in Promoting Women’s Wellness,” The conversation, set for April 30 in Abuja, will gather some of the nation’s leading voices in healthcare to spotlight the systemic barriers keeping thousands of women from safe pregnancies and childbirth.
“This edition is focused on real solutions: expanding insurance coverage to include women’s wellness services, designing gender-inclusive policies, and introducing innovative models like wellness vouchers for low-income women,” said Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, NSSF’s Managing Director and CEO.
According to the Fund, the scale of the crisis is staggering. An estimated 1,047 Nigerian women die in every 100,000 live births. Nigeria alone accounts for 14 to 20 percent of all maternal deaths worldwide.
“These numbers are not just statistics,” the NSSF stated. “They represent lives lost, futures altered, and families affected. We are coming together to say: enough is enough.”
The Fireside Chat will be headlined by Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority. He will be joined by prominent health experts including Dr. Binyerem Ukaire of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Mojisola Odeku of the Gates Foundation, and Dr. Adedayo Aderibigbe, a public health specialist.
The hybrid event will be held at Inter Trade Ltd, Gwarinpa, Abuja, starting at 1:00 p.m. It aims to foster collaboration among stakeholders to drive actionable policy shifts and improve access to quality maternal care for every Nigerian woman, regardless of location, income, or background.