Good news for mothers in Nigeria. The government helped 4,000 pregnant women get free C-sections in 2025.
These women paid nothing for their surgery. They got safe births at no cost through the National Health Insurance program.
This big step came from MAMII (Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative). MAMII is a government plan that started in November 2024. It helps pregnant women and babies stay alive during childbirth.
According to the 2025 Federal Ministry of Health report, the program is working. Fewer mothers and babies are dying. The numbers show real progress across Nigeria.
What is MAMII and How Does It Help Pregnant Women?
MAMII is a government health program. It works in 172 local government areas (LGAs) across Nigeria.
The program has two big goals:
- Cut maternal deaths by 30%
- Cut newborn deaths by 20%
What MAMII does for pregnant women:
- Gives free C-sections to women who need them
- Fixes health centers so they work better
- Sends ambulances when women have emergencies
- Trains health workers to help during birth
- Gives out medicine to stop bleeding after birth
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare runs this program. It focuses on areas where many mothers and babies die during childbirth.
Want detailed data on maternal health programs? Access our complete maternal health resource library
How Many Pregnant Women Got Help?
The 2025 government report shows big numbers:
Free C-Sections:
- 4,000 pregnant women got free C-sections
- All were done in approved health centers
- Women in the National Health Insurance got this help
Medical Care Before Birth:
- 729,724 women went for their first check-up before 20 weeks pregnant
- 794,205 women finished their fourth check-up
- Over 400,000 pregnant women were put on tracking lists
Emergency Help:
- Emergency calls went from 86 to 32,711
- 7,451 women were moved to better hospitals
- 25%Â of health centers can now call for emergency rides
Babies Born (January to September 2025):
- 731,559 babies were born
- 841 maternal deaths (down 17% from before)
- 1,245 newborn deaths (down 12% from before)
- 21,172 stillbirths were recorded
These numbers come from the Federal Ministry of Health’s official 2025 report.
What Free Services Did Pregnant Women Get?
1. Free C-Section Surgery
A C-section is surgery to take a baby out through the mother’s belly. Doctors do this when normal birth might hurt the mother or baby.
Women enrolled in National Health Insurance paid nothing for this surgery. The government paid for everything.
2. Fixed and Better Health Centers
The program fixed 435 health facilities in the 172 LGAs. These centers now have:
- Medicine for mothers and babies
- Equipment for safe births
- Trained workers who know how to help
Over 500 facilities got new medical supplies.
3. Emergency Rides to Hospitals
When a pregnant woman has an emergency, she needs to get to the hospital fast. MAMII set up emergency transport in 12 states.
The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) now helps pregnant women. This service went from helping 86 women to helping 32,711 women.
4. Special Medicine to Stop Bleeding
Heavy bleeding after birth kills many mothers. MAMII gave out heat-stable carbetocin to 47% of LGAs. This drug stops bleeding after birth.
5. Community Health Workers
Health workers now track 411,296 women in their communities. They visit homes to check on pregnant women. They make sure women go to the clinic.
Are you an NGO or researcher working on maternal health? Get our MAMII implementation guide and data sets
Which Areas Got This Help?
MAMII works in 172 local government areas across Nigeria. These are places where many mothers and babies were dying.
Progress by location:
- 52%Â of LGAs now have at least 2 Level-2 health centers
- 78%Â have a Primary Health Centre in every ward
- 12 states have working emergency ambulance systems
- 186 LGAs made special plans to help pregnant women
The program uses money from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). This fund pays for health services for poor people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free C-Sections
Can I Get a Free C-Section in Nigeria?
Yes, if you join the National Health Insurance program. In 2025, 4,000 pregnant women got free C-sections. You pay nothing if you’re in the program.
Go to your local health center to learn how to join. The health workers there will help you sign up.
What Is a C-Section?
A C-section (caesarean section) is surgery to deliver a baby. The doctor cuts the mother’s belly and womb to take the baby out safely.
Doctors do C-sections when:
- The baby is too big for normal birth
- The baby is not in the right position
- The mother has health problems
- Normal birth might be dangerous
Which States Have MAMII Programs?
MAMII works in 172 local government areas across Nigeria. At least 12 states have emergency ambulances for pregnant women.
The program focuses on areas with high maternal and newborn deaths. Check with your local health center to see if your area is included.
How Do I Get Emergency Help During Pregnancy?
Call the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS). They helped over 32,000 pregnant women in 2025.
Ask your local health center for the NEMSAS phone number in your area. Save this number in your phone when you get pregnant.
Related Reading:Â FG Offered 4000 Women FREE C-Section
What Problems Still Exist for Pregnant Women?
According to the 2025 report, these problems remain:
- Not enough community health workers to visit homes
- Not enough emergency care centers for births
- Some areas don’t have ambulances yet
- Only 12% of health centers have 2 or more midwives
- Only 20% of centers have a lab technician
The government is working to fix these problems.
What Still Needs to Be Fixed?
The government report shows gaps that need fixing:
Not Enough Health Workers:
- Only 12% of health centers have 2 or more midwives
- Only 20% of centers have a lab technician
- Not enough community workers to visit pregnant women at home
Not Enough Facilities:
- Some areas lack Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) centers
- Some areas lack Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) centers
BEmONC means a health center that can handle basic birth emergencies. CEmONC means a hospital that can handle all birth emergencies, including surgery.
Transport Problems:
- Emergency ambulances don’t reach all areas
- Some ambulance drivers don’t get paid on time
- The computer systems for tracking ambulances are weak
Money Problems:
- Programs sometimes don’t get funding on time
- This can make programs stop working
Tracking Problems:
- Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) is weak
- Not all maternal deaths are being reported and studied
MPDSR means tracking when mothers and babies die to understand why and how to prevent it.
What Experts Say Should Happen Next
To keep saving mothers and babies, experts recommend:
- Hire more community health workers to visit pregnant women at home
- Build more BEmONC and CEmONC facilities so every area has emergency birth care
- Make ambulances work everywhere and pay drivers on time
- Track all maternal deaths to learn why they happen
- Give programs money on time so they can keep working
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, “With continued coordination and best practices, MAMII can help Nigeria reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.”
What This Means for Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. Many mothers die during childbirth from problems that can be stopped.
The 2025 data shows hope:
- 17% fewer maternal deaths in program areas
- 12% fewer newborn deaths in program areas
- More women going to clinics for check-ups
- More emergency help available
- More health centers that work properly
This progress happened in just one year. It shows what’s possible when the government focuses on saving mothers and babies.
When pregnant women get good care – free C-sections, working health centers, emergency ambulances, regular check-ups, and medicine – more mothers and babies live.
What Pregnant Women Should Do
If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant:
Before Pregnancy:
- Join the National Health Insurance program
- Find out which health centers are near you
- Save emergency numbers in your phone
During Pregnancy:
- Go for your first clinic visit before 20 weeks
- Finish all four clinic visits (antenatal care)
- Ask your health worker about free C-sections
- Tell your family where the nearest hospital is
During Birth:
- Go to a health center with trained workers
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- If you have problems, call for emergency transport
After Birth:
- Go back to the clinic for check-ups
- Watch for warning signs like heavy bleeding
- Ask for help if you feel sick
Resources for Health Workers and Researchers
For Health Workers:
- Training materials on emergency obstetric care
- Drug lists and treatment guides
- Emergency transport contact information
- MAMII implementation guidelines
For Researchers and NGOs:
- Complete 2025 Federal Ministry of Health statistics
- MAMII program data and analysis
- State-by-state maternal health breakdown
- Policy documents and frameworks
For Policymakers:
- Budget analysis for maternal health programs
- Implementation guides for local governments
- Success stories and case studies
- Recommendations for scaling programs
Genderpedia.ng has verified, complete data on maternal health in Nigeria. All information comes from official government sources and is updated regularly.
Access all maternal health data and resources
Related Reading:Â What is maternal care and why Nigeria needs better systems
Take Action Today
If you’re pregnant:
- Join National Health Insurance now
- Start your clinic visits early
- Learn about free C-sections
If you work in health:
- Get the latest MAMII training materials
- Access emergency care protocols
- Find ambulance contact numbers
If you’re a researcher:
- Download the 2025 health statistics
- Access state-level maternal health data
- Get MAMII program analysis
If you’re making policy:
- Review implementation guides
- Study what’s working in other states
- Access budget analysis tools
About This Information
All numbers and facts in this article come from the 2025 Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare official report.
Genderpedia.ng provides verified, up-to-date health and gender data for Nigeria. We track government programs, analyze results, and make data easy to understand.
Read more: 4,000 Pregnant Women Got Free C-Sections in Nigeria (2025 Report)
