Maternal Health Champion Completes Year of Service at Federal Medical Center

By Ugo Alipgo

Dr. Chiamaka Grace Ohanebo has concluded a transformative year at the Federal Medical Center in Bida, Niger State, where her work in obstetric and gynecologic care reached more than 2,000 community members through clinical services and outreach programs. Her tenure, which ran from September 2021 to September 2022, exemplified how physicians can extend their impact far beyond hospital walls to address the social determinants that shape maternal health outcomes.

Throughout her time at the medical center, Dr. Ohanebo delivered comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care while simultaneously leading emergency responses for critical maternal cases. The dual nature of her role required both clinical expertise and the ability to make rapid, high-stakes decisions in resource-constrained environments where delays or errors could prove fatal. Her colleagues noted her calm effectiveness in crisis situations and her commitment to ensuring that every woman received dignified, competent care regardless of her socioeconomic status.

Beyond the delivery room and clinic, Dr. Ohanebo recognized that improving maternal outcomes required engaging communities directly. She spearheaded outreach programs focused on maternal health education, family planning, and disease prevention, bringing critical information to populations that often lack access to reliable health education. These initiatives tackled topics that remain sensitive in many Nigerian communities, requiring cultural sensitivity and trust-building to address effectively.
Her outreach work covered essential areas including prenatal care, nutrition during pregnancy, recognizing danger signs, birth spacing, and preventive health measures. By meeting people in their communities rather than waiting for them to seek care, she helped normalize conversations about reproductive health and empowered women with knowledge that could save lives. The programs reached diverse audiences, from expectant mothers to community leaders, creating networks of informed individuals who could support better health practices.

Perhaps most significantly, Dr. Ohanebo led quality-improvement projects that produced tangible changes in how the facility managed labor and delivery. She identified gaps in existing protocols and worked collaboratively with colleagues to implement evidence-based practices that reduced preventable maternal complications. These weren’t abstract policy documents but practical changes in workflow, communication, and clinical decision-making that directly improved patient safety.

Nigeria faces one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with most deaths resulting from preventable causes including hemorrhage, infection, and complications from unsafe abortion. Working in this context means confronting daily the consequences of inadequate infrastructure, delayed care-seeking, and limited access to emergency interventions. Dr. Ohanebo’s quality-improvement initiatives addressed what could be changed within the facility’s control, optimizing systems to ensure that when women did reach the hospital, they received the highest standard of care possible.

Her work also involved mentoring junior colleagues and medical students, sharing knowledge that would extend her impact long after her departure. She fostered an environment of continuous learning where staff felt empowered to ask questions, suggest improvements, and engage in the kind of reflective practice that drives clinical excellence.

This year of service built upon Dr. Ohanebo’s earlier training, including her intern year at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and her medical degree from National Pirogov Memorial Medical University. It also preceded her transition into other areas of health and community impact, demonstrating her versatility as a physician and her commitment to serving populations facing the greatest health disparities.

As she moved on from this role, Dr. Ohanebo left behind improved protocols, better-informed communities, and a model for how dedicated physicians can drive change even in challenging circumstances. Her work stands as a reminder that maternal health requires both clinical skill and a commitment to addressing the broader factors that determine whether women survive pregnancy and childbirth.