Nigeria Midwives Service Scheme

A Nigerian federal government initiative launched in 2009 to address the country's high maternal and child mortality rates by deploying skilled midwives to rural communities where access to health care had been limited. The scheme operates through collaboration among federal, state and local governments: each participating Primary Health Care Centre receives a team of four midwives together with one community health extension worker and one health assistant, with personnel rotating on a quarterly basis, the federal government funding their stipends while states provide accommodation and logistical support. Run by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency under Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health, the Midwives Service Scheme strengthens maternal, newborn and child health by increasing access to skilled birth attendance in underserved areas, improving antenatal care utilization and reinforcing primary health care infrastructure at the community level.