The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has rolled out three key initiatives designed to boost maternal, newborn and child health, promote nutrition, and tackle the growing threat of fake and substandard medical products in Nigeria.
The new programmes — the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health + Nutrition (MNCH+N), the NAFDAC Office of Women and Children’s Health (NOWCH), and the National Action Plan on Prevention, Detection and Response to Substandard and Falsified Medical Products (2023–2027) — were unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, described the launch as a defining moment for Nigeria’s health system, noting that the agency’s latest drive underscores its dedication to protecting the most vulnerable groups in society.
Mrs Adeyeye explained that the three initiatives are interlinked, forming part of NAFDAC’s broader vision to safeguard women and children across the country.
“Through the Office of Women and Children’s Health, NAFDAC seeks to champion safe motherhood, promote rational medicine use, encourage breastfeeding, and combat harmful practices such as drug misuse and unsafe cosmetics,” she said.
She added that the agency would work closely with relevant ministries, non-governmental organisations, and private partners to strengthen local production of paediatric medicines and menstrual hygiene products.
According to her, the MNCH+N programme will address malnutrition and maternal and child mortality by enforcing stronger regulation of essential nutrition products and ensuring compliance with breastfeeding-friendly policies.
“Partnerships with WHO, UNICEF, and GAIN continue to reinforce these regulatory and production systems for sustainable impact,” she said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, who also spoke at the event, commended NAFDAC for introducing the initiatives, describing them as a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing health reform agenda.
Mr Pate noted that while Nigeria has recorded a 17 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and a 10 per cent drop in newborn deaths in recent years, more still needs to be done to achieve lasting progress.
He said the Office for Women’s Health would prioritise maternal nutrition, reproductive health, and access to safe and effective medicines, adding that ongoing reforms have already encouraged more local production of maternal and reproductive health products.
He stressed that the National Action Plan against substandard and falsified medicines would reinforce drug safety and strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system.
He called on all stakeholders — including government bodies, civil society groups, professional associations, and the media — to join hands to ensure no Nigerian dies from preventable causes.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on NAFDAC, Regina Akume, hailed the agency’s leadership for introducing initiatives that would deliver long-term benefits for women and children’s health.
Ms Akume said the renewed focus on women and children underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring safe pregnancies, healthy births, and thriving families.
She also praised the establishment of the Office for Women and Children’s Health, describing it as a platform for promoting inclusive health policies and encouraging research that directly benefits women and children.
She reaffirmed her committee’s support for NAFDAC’s National Action Plan to curb substandard and falsified medicines, noting that “Substandard and falsified medicines endanger lives, erode trust, and undermine the progress we have made in healthcare delivery.”
Ms Akume assured the agency of the legislature’s continued collaboration in advancing national health objectives.
