Every year on January 23, Maternal Health Awareness Day invites the world to pause and reflect on one of the most
critical and often overlooked public health issues: the health and survival of women during pregnancy,
childbirth, and the postpartum period.
It is a day to amplify voices, share evidence, and confront uncomfortable truths. Most importantly, it is a reminder
that no woman should lose her life while giving life, especially when many maternal deaths are preventable.
THE REALITY WE CANNOT IGNORE
Despite advances in medicine and technology, maternal mortality remains alarmingly high in many parts of the
world.
According to the 2023 United Nations report on Trends in Maternal Mortality (2000–2020), nearly 28.5% of
global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. A woman in Nigeria faces a 1 in 19 lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy related causes, compared to 1 in 4,900 in the most developed countries.
Most maternal deaths are preventable and are often caused by severe bleeding, infections, hypertensive disorders,
and complications during delivery conditions that can be effectively managed with timely access to quality
healthcare.
KEY CHALLENGES FACING MATERNAL HEALTH IN NIGERIA
- Limited access to skilled birth attendants, particularly in rural and underserved areas
- High out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Weak emergency obstetric and referral systems
- Shortage of trained healthcare workers and essential medical supplies
- Low awareness of danger signs during pregnancy
These systemic challenges continue to place Nigerian women at significant risk during pregnancy and childbirth.
NIGERIA-SPECIFIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
To significantly reduce maternal mortality and meet national and global targets, Nigeria must prioritize the
following actions:
1. Strengthen Primary Health Care
Ensure all wards have functional, well-equipped primary healthcare facilities offering 24-hour maternal service
2. Expand Health Insurance Coverage
Scale up the National Health Insurance Authority to cover antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, particularly for
low-income and vulnerable women.
3. Invest in Skilled Health Workforce
Recruit, train, and retain midwives, nurses, and doctors, especially in rural communities.
4. Improve Emergency Obstetric and Referral Systems
Establish reliable ambulance services, functional blood banks, and efficient referral networks.
5. Strengthen Data and Accountability Systems
Enhance maternal death surveillance and response mechanisms to guide evidence-based policies.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030
Under Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, the global target is to reduce maternal mortality to fewer than 70
deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Achieving this in Nigeria will require sustained political commitment,
adequate funding, and coordinated action across all levels of government.
A CALL TO ACTION
On this Maternal Health Awareness Day, let us move beyond awareness to action. Let us demand systems that
protect women, invest in care that saves lives, and build a future where childbirth is a moment of joy not risk.
No woman should die giving birth
By Akwuobi Uchenna Glory
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