In a concerning revelation, the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective (MRHRC) disclosed that a staggering 82,000 Nigerian women succumb to pregnancy-related complications annually. Professor Bosede Afolabi, the founder and chairperson of MRHRC, deemed this mortality rate the highest globally, underscoring the critical need for intensified reproductive health campaigns, especially in rural regions.
During a press conference in Lagos, Afolabi outlined the group’s ambitious initiative: raising N100 million by month-end to support safe deliveries for 5,000 pregnant women in Lagos. The funds will be channeled into comprehensive training programs for healthcare workers, ensuring consistent antenatal care, and facilitating safe childbirth.
Afolabi’s call to action resonated with other experts present, including Dr. Mobolanle Balogun, an associate professor of Public Health at the University of Lagos. Balogun lamented the alarming 30% maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, emphasizing that pregnancy should not lead to a death sentence. She identified key factors contributing to this crisis, such as hemorrhages during delivery, obstructed labor, post-delivery infections, and hypertension.
Balogun highlighted the challenges faced by communities, including limited access to healthcare facilities, lack of skilled birth attendants, cultural taboos hindering women from seeking care, poverty affecting healthcare accessibility, and insufficient knowledge about pregnancy preparation.
MRHRC’s Executive Director, Funke Iroko, emphasized the initiative’s focus on indigent women and girls, stressing the importance of participatory research, advocacy, and intervention. Professor Abide Gbadegesin echoed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for the government to invest in accessible healthcare facilities and infrastructure.
This revelation sheds light on a dire situation, prompting a collective call for immediate, comprehensive measures to address the maternal mortality crisis in Nigeria.
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