Who We Are

Black and white photo of a child sitting on a lap, with adult hands holding the child's feet, forming a heart shape.

What We Do

Through our programs and partnerships, MIHEI:

  • Connects women to emergency response, health facilities, and insurance coverage.

  • Strengthens referral systems to improve response time and coordination during pregnancy and childbirth.

  • Builds digital and community platforms for education, peer-to-peer support, and maternal health awareness.

  • Generates data and insights that inform health policies and interventions.

  • Collaborates with local and national partners such as HMOs, emergency response agencies, and health authorities.

MIHEI is a nonprofit organization advancing equitable maternal and infant health through technology, partnerships, and access to essential resources.
We connect women directly to care — linking them with hospitals, emergency responders, insurance providers, and trusted information — to ensure safe, timely, and affordable perinatal services for all.

Founded in 2024, MIHEI is registered in the United States and is also registered in Nigeria. We work at the intersection of health equity, innovation, and systems strengthening, supporting national efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

Our approach is collaborative — bridging government, private sector, and community actors to create a coordinated pathway of care that women can rely on.

Our Mission

To advance maternal and infant health by connecting women to timely, affordable, and compassionate care through technology, partnerships, and access to essential resources — ensuring that no woman is left behind because of where she lives or what she earns.

Our Vision

A world where every woman can access safe and equitable perinatal care — supported by connected systems, empowered communities, and data-driven innovation.

"In an ideal society, every woman should have the right to affordable, equitable, and high-quality healthcare throughout the entire journey of pregnancy—before, during, and after. Unfortunately, the reality is that too many women, despite their behavioral, economic, and social factors, are still denied this fundamental access." - Dami Shobiye, Founder of MIHEI

FAQs

  • MIHEI (pronounced as “M  I  H  E  I”) stands for the Maternal and Infant Health Equity Initiative. We are dedicated to improving maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly in Nigeria, by implementing innovative and accessible solutions. Our mission is to reduce maternal and infant mortality and promote equitable, quality healthcare for all.

  • MIHEI is focused on Nigeria because the need is significant and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact is clear.

    Through our work engaging with over 1,000 women and birth attendants, we have seen firsthand the challenges many women face in accessing timely and appropriate care during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. These challenges are often not just about availability, but about knowing where to go, being able to afford care, and receiving the right support at the right time.

    Nigeria also has one of the highest maternal mortality burdens globally, which makes it a critical place to focus efforts that can improve outcomes.

    Our approach is to work within and strengthen existing systems by improving care navigation, coordination, and follow-up so that women are better supported throughout their journey.

    While our work is currently focused on Nigeria, the long-term goal is to build a model that can be adapted and expanded to other settings over time.

  • MIHEI focuses on helping women access and navigate care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

    Our work includes connecting women to trusted healthcare providers, supporting access to antenatal care and facility-based delivery, and providing follow-up and guidance after childbirth. We also help women navigate referrals when complications arise and support coordination across different points of care.

    In addition, we work closely with healthcare providers and partners to strengthen how care is delivered and accessed, with a focus on improving coordination, follow-up, and overall support for women.

    Our goal is to ensure that women are not navigating pregnancy and childbirth alone, but are supported every step of the way.

  • A Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) is a community-based provider who supports women during pregnancy and childbirth, often outside of formal healthcare facilities. In many communities, TBAs are trusted, accessible, and play an important role in supporting women.

    At MIHEI, we recognize the role TBAs already play and focus on working alongside them as part of the broader maternal health system. Our approach is not to replace their work, but to support better coordination between TBAs and formal healthcare providers.

    This includes strengthening referral pathways, encouraging timely connections to facility-based care when needed, and ensuring that women receive appropriate support throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

    By working collaboratively, we aim to improve outcomes while respecting the important role TBAs continue to play in their communities.

  • MIHEI was initially funded by our founder and is currently seeking additional grants and support to expand our projects. Our goal is to secure partnerships and funding to sustain and grow our impact, especially in reaching underserved communities.

  • There are several ways to be part of this work.

    You can support MIHEI by making a donation, helping us share our mission with others, or contributing your time and expertise. We welcome healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, and anyone who cares about improving maternal health.

    If you are interested in getting more involved or exploring ways to partner with us, please reach out to info@mihei.org. We would be glad to connect.

  • No, MIHEI’s services are not limited to Lagos.

    While some of our early work and initial engagements began in Lagos, we currently support women across multiple states in Nigeria, including Abuja (FCT), Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Kwara.

    Our approach is designed to be flexible and responsive, allowing us to support women in different locations while continuing to strengthen partnerships and expand our reach over time.

  • MIHEI’s goal is to build a system where women can easily access and navigate quality care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

    We are focused on expanding our reach across more communities in Nigeria, strengthening partnerships with healthcare providers and organizations, and improving how care is coordinated and delivered.

    A key part of our work is continuing to develop and scale solutions that make it easier for women to access care, receive timely referrals, and stay connected to support throughout their journey.

    Over time, we aim to build a model that not only improves outcomes in Nigeria but can also be adapted and expanded to other settings.

  • MIHEI takes an evidence-based approach, backed by community needs assessments and innovative technology projects. Our solutions are tailored to address the specific challenges and needs that are unique to each community. By prioritizing collaboration with local TBAs and healthcare providers, we build sustainable solutions that directly respond to the realities faced by mothers and infants in those areas.

  • Donations to MIHEI help us connect women to the care they need throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

    Your support allows us to help women access antenatal care, navigate where to go for services, receive timely referrals when complications arise, and stay connected to care after childbirth. It also supports the coordination and follow-up that are often missing but critical to improving outcomes.

    From our work engaging over 1,000 women and birth attendants, we’ve seen that access to care is not just about availability. It is about making that care easier to reach, understand, and stay connected to.

    By supporting MIHEI, you are helping build a system that ensures women are not navigating pregnancy and childbirth alone, and that they receive the right care at the right time.

  • You can reach out to us via our Contact page, where you’ll find options to email or call us. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, partnering, or simply learning more, we’d love to hear from you!

  • MIHEI was founded by Dami Shobiye, a maternal health systems expert with experience working across Nigeria and leading U.S. academic medical centers.

    Her work focuses on improving how women access and navigate care during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, with an emphasis on strengthening existing health systems and ensuring women receive the support they need at every stage.

  • Yes, MIHEI is a registered nonprofit organization. It operates as a 501(c)(3) entity in the United States and is also registered in Nigeria as Maternal and Infant Health Equity Initiative Impact (MIHEI). MIHEI is dedicated to serving the community by focusing on maternal and infant health issues, ensuring that all activities align with the goals of public benefit and social good.


  • MIHEI operates under the tax-exempt identification number associated with its nonprofit status. For more specific information, such as the tax-exempt ID number, please contact MIHEI directly at info@mihei.org