Nigeria health reforms must deliver measurable outcomes, CSOs warn

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria are calling for the government to translate health sector reforms into measurable improvements in care and outcomes. During a mid-year review in Abuja, the Health Sector Reform Coalition and the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum warned that while policy development is underway, significant gaps remain in maternal and child health.

Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023–24 indicates that 40 per cent of children under five are stunted, with 21 per cent being severely stunted. Additionally, only 39 per cent of children aged 12–23 months have been fully vaccinated with basic antigens, and 14 per cent of children in that age group have received no vaccinations at all.

Other critical concerns raised include low rates of modern contraceptive use, which stands at 15 per cent among married women, and uneven progress across different states. Advocates emphasized that for reforms to be successful, they must be institutionalized through better leadership, sustainable financing, and improved integration across nutrition, education, and sanitation sectors.