As part of efforts to address Nigeria’s troubling maternal health indices, OneHealth Pharmacy has launched the Màámi Initiative, a year-long maternal and sexual health campaign aimed at improving access to accurate information and essential services for women.
Nigeria accounts for about 28 per cent of global maternal deaths, with a maternal mortality ratio estimated at 1,047 per 100,000 live births, a situation that continues to raise concern among public health stakeholders.
The initiative commenced with a three-day Sexual Health Awareness Week held from February 17 to 19, 2026, at the University of Lagos. The programme engaged hundreds of students across Moremi Garden and Makama Hall on the main campus, as well as the College of Medicine at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Male and female students accessed free health counselling, HIV testing, sexual and reproductive health consultations, and contraceptives, including condoms. Organisers reported active participation and open conversations among students seeking reliable health information.
Communications and Public Relations Officer at OneHealth Pharmacy, Oladotun Ola-Egbinola, said the initiative was designed to bridge persistent gaps in maternal and sexual healthcare.
According to her, maternal health outcomes are often shaped long before pregnancy, stressing that early engagement of young adults with the right information and tools could influence long-term health outcomes. She added that taking services directly to campuses and communities helps remove barriers that discourage people from seeking care.
Project Manager of the initiative, Sarah Salako, explained that Màámi would feature monthly physical and virtual activations throughout 2026, focusing on maternal and sexual health education, preventive care and improved access to essential services.
She said the campaign aims to reach over 15,000 women through physical outreaches and facilitate between 8,000 and 10,000 WhatsApp consultations with licensed pharmacists via the OneHealth digital platforms.
The University of Lagos programme was delivered in partnership with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency as well as the Association of Medical Students in Lagos and AIESEC in Lagos to broaden student participation.
Following the launch, the organisation said the Màámi Initiative would expand to markets, churches, corporate offices and additional campuses across Lagos and Ibadan in the coming months.
