As Nigeria moves toward strengthening maternal health outcomes, private healthcare providers are becoming an essential part of the reform story. Usually the first point of care for pregnant women, private clinics play a very important role; but they’ve traditionally been left out of large-scale quality improvement efforts.
That’s beginning to change. Between May 13 and June 19, 2025, the FOR M(om) program supported four rounds of in-person training across Lagos, Kano, and Delta states, reaching 704 healthcare workers from 108 private facilities.
The training achieved 75% of the national target, marking a significant step forward in extending life-saving skills to frontline providers outside the public system.
The curriculum was designed to be hands-on and immediately useful, focusing on tools and techniques that improve care during pregnancy and childbirth. Participants were trained on:
- The WHO Labour Care Guide, which promotes respectful, evidence-based monitoring
- PREMOTIVE protocols for managing postpartum hemorrhage
- Calibrated drapes to improve the accuracy of blood loss estimation
In Kano, participants had a chance to observe real-time care at Murtala Specialist Hospital; everything from antenatal counselling to emergency care. That experience stuck with many.
“The practical session was the first time I saw the Mirena IUD,” said Ummu Salma Jibril, one of the participants. “I learned so much, and it gave me the confidence to improve care for my patients.”
In Delta, 28 providers downloaded and activated the Safe Delivery App during training; giving them access to clinical refresher tools directly on their mobile devices.
Supporting the Business Side of Private Practice
The training also addressed something many private providers struggle with: managing the financial side of their clinics. Many facility owners have little formal training in business operations, which can make it hard to grow or sustain quality services.
To help close this gap, FOR M(om) included peer-led business sessions where experienced clinic owners shared practical tips and lessons on pricing, budgeting, and bookkeeping. The sessions were semi-formal but packed with value.
Key takeaways included:
- Increased confidence in handling daily financial decisions
- A growing demand for ongoing mentorship and tools
- New WhatsApp peer groups that are keeping the learning going beyond the classroom
Growing Interest in Structured Quality Improvement
During the training, a number of providers also expressed interest in SafeCare, a recognised quality improvement framework. Previously viewed as out of reach for small clinics, it gained traction after two Lagos facilities presented their journey through assessment and implementation, including visible improvements in patient outcomes and internal systems.
Inspired by their peers, several Delta facilities requested their first SafeCare baseline assessments.
Across all three states, clinic teams left the training with clear next steps; committing to launch Quality Improvement Projects (QIPs) that reflect their own service delivery goals.
Early priorities are already taking shape, with many facilities focusing on strengthening SOP adherence and introducing regular internal audits to keep care consistent and accountable.
FOR M(om)’s next focus is to support these providers as they translate new skills into meaningful, lasting improvements in maternal care. The momentum from this training phase signals a growing movement among private clinics to raise the bar on quality, sustainability, and collaboration.
