Nigeria’s Maternal Health Crisis

Nigeria is the world’s most dangerous nation in which to give birth, with one woman dying every seven minutes. According to UN estimates for 2023, one in 100 women die in labor or shortly after giving birth. This puts Nigeria at the top of a league table no country wants to head.

Maternal Death Statistics

• In 2023, Nigeria accounted for over a quarter (29%) of all maternal deaths worldwide, with an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth last year alone.
• The majority of these deaths could have been prevented with proper care before and during delivery.

Personal Stories of Loss

Chinenye Nweze was one victim who bled to death at a hospital in Onitsha five years ago. Her brother, Henry Edeh, recalls the desperate attempts by doctors to save her life, but it was too late.

• "They needed blood," he recalls. "The blood they had wasn’t enough and they were running around."

Other tragic cases include:

• Chinyere Okechukwu: Suffered severe injuries due to obstructed labor.
• Aisha Aliyu: Experienced a brain hemorrhage after developing eclampsia during pregnancy.
• Ifeoma Okoroafor: Died from sepsis caused by an unsafe abortion performed without medical supervision.

Contributing Factors

Martin Dohlsten from the Nigeria office of UNICEF highlights that poor health infrastructure and a shortage of medical professionals mean many women do not receive adequate care when complications arise during pregnancy or childbirth.

Key Issues:

• Government Spending: Nigeria’s federal government currently spends only 5% on health, well short of the 15% target set by the African Union treaty signed in 2001.
• Healthcare Workforce: In 2021, there were 1,200,000 midwives serving nearly 218 million people, with less than half of births overseen by skilled health workers. The country needs an estimated 77,000 more nurses and midwives to meet the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio.
• Doctor Shortage: There is also a severe shortage of doctors.

Trust in Healthcare

Many women, like Jamila Ishaq, express distrust in hospitals due to stories of negligence, particularly in public facilities. Jamila recounts her experience during her fourth child’s birth, where complications arose, and no healthcare worker was available at the hospital.

In contrast, women like Chinwendu Obiejesi, who can afford private clinics, ensure they receive proper care. She emphasizes the importance of attending antenatal care and being prepared for potential complications.

Government Initiatives

Dr. Nana Sandah Abubakar, director of community services at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, acknowledges the dire situation but notes that a new plan is being implemented to address these issues.

Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (Mamii)

• Launched in November, this initiative targets 172 local governments across 33 states, which account for more than half of all childbirth-related deaths in the country.
• So far, 400,000 pregnant women in six states have been identified through house-to-house surveys to determine their access to antenatal classes.
• The plan aims to link these women to services to ensure they receive the care needed for safe deliveries and to encourage enrollment in low-cost public insurance.

Conclusion

While it is too early to assess the impact of Mamii, authorities hope Nigeria will eventually follow the global trend of reducing maternal deaths. Globally, maternal deaths have dropped by 40% since 2000, thanks to expanded access to healthcare. In Nigeria, however, the numbers have only improved by 13% during the same period.

Despite Mamii and other programs being welcome initiatives, experts believe that greater investment is necessary. Their success depends on sustained funding, effective implementation, and continuous monitoring to ensure intended outcomes are achieved. In the meantime, the loss of each mother continues to be a tragedy for the families involved.