Stakeholders Make Case for Maternal Health, Say No Woman Should Die from Pregnancy

Mary Nnah

Stakeholders in the health sector have made a compelling case for maternal health in Nigeria, emphasizing that no woman should die from pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. This was the central theme of a summit organized by Project Aisha Maternal Healthcare Quality Improvement, recently held at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja.

The summit, themed “Mothers Matter! What does it take to Stop Maternal Deaths? – Closing Quality Gaps in Maternal Healthcare,” reflects the concern of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and aligns with ongoing efforts to achieve the objectives of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), represented by Dr. Muhammad Bello, highlighted the critical state of maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria. With a maternal mortality rate of 512 per 100,000 live births, Dr. Aina emphasized that these deaths are due to various reasons, including the scarcity of trained skilled birth attendants, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth.

According to Dr. Aina, President Tinubu has charged health experts to provide quality healthcare services to all Nigerians and rapidly reduce maternal and newborn deaths. To address this challenge, the NPHCDA has embarked on a mission to retrain 120,000 frontline health workers over four years to deliver integrated quality services in primary healthcare centers. As of now, 60,470 health workers have been retrained across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Yewande Ogundeji, Managing Principal of Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), echoed the sentiment that no woman should die while giving life. She highlighted HSDF’s initiatives, including the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII), launched in November 2024. This initiative aims to ensure timely access to life-saving care through the National Health Insurance Authority’s Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Maternal Care (CEOMC) scheme.

Dr. Ogundeji called for deeper collaboration across sectors, investment in the capacity of the health workforce, and centering the voices of women and communities in healthcare decision-making. “We cannot do this alone,” she stressed. “Let this summit be more than a meeting. Let it be a catalyst for honest reflection, shared learning, and collective action.”

The stakeholders unanimously agreed that every effort counts in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that no woman dies from pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. They urged bold leadership and multi-sectoral partnerships to scale effective interventions and drive meaningful change in maternal healthcare.