The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has reaffirmed its commitment to championing maternal health equity in Nigeria with the successful hosting of the 7th edition of its Fireside Chat Series on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Abuja.
Themed “Breaking Barriers to Maternal Health Equity: The Role of Health Insurance in Promoting Women’s Wellness,” the event brought together key stakeholders from across government, development partners, donor agencies, and the healthcare sector to discuss sustainable, inclusive health solutions for Nigerian women, especially those in underserved and low-income communities.
Speaking after the event, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, Managing Director and CEO of NSSF, emphasized the driving force behind the Fireside Chat:
“Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains unacceptably high with over 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.
“This cannot continue. We are here to ask the hard questions: how can we ensure that when a woman needs care, she can access it without money in her pocket and without delay?
“That’s what health insurance is meant to do, and it must be inclusive and accessible.”
The Fireside Chat featured an expert panel including:
Dr. Mojisola Odeku, Senior Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who spoke on leveraging donor support to improve access to women’s health services.
Professor Chima Onoka, representing the Director General/CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), who highlighted the Authority’s work in expanding insurance coverage and digitizing registration processes.
Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, Director and Head, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, who discussed national interventions including free emergency cesarean sections (C-sections) and treatment for Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in over 20 states.
Dr. Chinye-Nwoko added:
“We know from our work in the field that women are not just uninformed — they’re unregistered, unempowered, and underserved. Awareness is low. Access is difficult. But we have the tools, the data, and the partnerships to change that. What we need now is policy implementation and financial commitment that match the urgency of this crisis.”
One of the most urgent conversations that emerged from the event was the question: “Who pays for the health of the poor?” This sparked robust dialogue around the need for sustainable financing models that ensure maternal care is not a burden for vulnerable women.
There was a consensus that without strong financial support systems including government-subsidized health coverage, millions of women will continue to fall through the cracks.
Another key theme was the importance of prevention as a cost-saving strategy. Panelists agreed that scaling up preventive care, such as screenings, mental health support, and access to contraception, would significantly reduce maternal deaths and lower long-term healthcare costs.
NSSF also shared insights from its grassroots work, including field experiences in Ekiti State and its WeNaija Impact Cohort program.
These programs have revealed the real-world barriers women face, including misinformation, lack of trust, affordability concerns, and difficulties navigating the enrollment process.
From this rich dialogue, NSSF is committed to transforming conversation into action. The organization will be developing a set of targeted policy briefs, capturing the key insights shared at the Fireside Chat, and presenting them to relevant stakeholders in government, health institutions, and civil society.
These briefs will offer actionable recommendations aimed at shaping inclusive, gender-sensitive health insurance policies that prioritize maternal wellness.
As part of our next steps, we are also adapting some of these learnings into our internal programs, particularly through the WeNaija Impact Cohort, where community advocates are integrating innovative solutions such as insurance education, wellness voucher models, and localized engagement strategies to improve maternal health access at the grassroots.
