NPHCDA records 45 million quarterly PHC visits, links 773,000 pregnant women to care

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says primary healthcare visits have risen to 45 million quarterly, while 773,000 pregnant women have been linked to care.

Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, disclosed this during the agency’s quarterly media briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Aina said the increase followed ongoing reforms aimed at improving access to trusted, quality primary healthcare services nationwide.

He added that the linking of pregnant women to care was part of efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

“When we started this journey, the quarterly attendance in terms of service contacts in the facilities was about 33 million or 34 million a quarter. Right now, it undulates between 43 million and 45 million,” he said.

He said service contacts peaked at 46 million in 2025, noting that numbers continued to rise across different healthcare service areas.

“I can tell you that the numbers continue to go up, and in fact, that is true, whether you’re looking at Ante-Natal Care (ANC) attendance, at immunisation, or at all of the other service lines,” he said.

According to him, the growing utilisation shows that Nigerians are responding positively to government efforts to strengthen PHC delivery.

Mr Aina said the agency was also implementing targeted interventions to address major causes of illness and deaths, particularly maternal and newborn mortality.

He identified the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) as one of the programmes designed to improve outcomes for pregnant women and newborns.

“We decided to create an end-to-end framework to support pregnant women through pregnancy, delivery, and immediate postnatal care for the mother and for the baby,” he said.

The NPHCDA boss said MAMII connects pregnant women with caseworkers, ensures necessary investigations are conducted, and links high-risk pregnancies to appropriate care facilities.

He disclosed that the number of pregnant women who had been linked to PHC centres was tracked under the programme within 172 local government areas in 33 states.

“No fewer than 773,000 women, over 200,000 deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants between January and August of 2026 alone,” he said.

He added that the figure represented a 17 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025, describing it as “significant progress”.

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“Other interventions, including family planning, maternal health services and availability of essential commodities, are also being strengthened,” he said.

“We are equally collaborating with the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System to ensure timely emergency transportation for pregnant women who need urgent care.”

He added that the agency was also strengthening interventions in family planning, maternal health services and access to essential commodities.

On the National Committee Food Bank Programme, Mr Aina noted that as of the last count, “we have 23 food banks, one per local government and have delivered 9,500 food packages to 2,488 beneficiaries.”

(NAN)