Lagos Records Decline in Maternal Deaths as First Lady Launches 2025 MNCAH+N Week
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has issued a strong warning against the patronage of quacks and unregistered birth attendants, urging community leaders to report offenders to the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA).
She also reiterated the state government’s zero tolerance for rape and domestic violence, assuring residents that victims can access free care at public health facilities.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu gave the warning during the flag-off ceremony of the second round of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (MNCAH+N) Week, held at the Mushin Local Government Secretariat, Lagos State. The programme provides residents with access to free health interventions across public primary healthcare facilities statewide.
Declaring the programme open, Dr. Sanwo-Olu described the MNCAH+N Week as one of the state’s most historic and impactful public health interventions, noting that it originated in Lagos before being adopted as a national programme in 2010.
Citing recent data, she disclosed that Lagos currently records an under-five mortality rate of 36 per 1,000 live births, a neonatal mortality rate of 25 per 1,000 live births, and an infant mortality rate of 46 per 1,000 live births. She also noted that maternal mortality declined from 555 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 430 per 100,000 in 2022.
She outlined the services available during the MNCAH+N Week to include Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6–59 months, multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, free malaria screening and treatment, family planning services, adolescent health interventions, and counselling on healthy lifestyles.
In her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi—represented by the Coordinating Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folashade Oludara—described the MNCAH+N Week as a reliable platform for delivering preventive healthcare directly to families. She said the initiative strengthens the primary healthcare system by deploying trained health workers and essential commodities across all local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs).
Also speaking, the Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, Tubosun Haruna Aruwe, described the MNCAH+N Week as a critical intervention aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the health agenda of the Sanwo-Olu administration. He urged residents to fully utilise the free services available at primary healthcare centres throughout the programme period.
