NewStats: 3,263,727 , 8,181,174 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 03:12 PM 3u762

At the age of 24, Nafisa Salahu was in danger of becoming just another statistic in Nigeria, where a woman dies giving birth every seven minutes, on average

Going into labour during a doctors' strike meant that, despite being in hospital, there was no expert help on hand once a complication emerged. Her baby's head was stuck and she was just told to lie still during labour, which lasted three days.bEventually a Caesarean was recommended and a doctor was located who was prepared to carry it out


"I thanked God because I was almost dying. I had no strength left, I had nothing left," Ms Salahu tells the BBC from Kano state in the north of the country.

She survived, but tragically her baby died.

Eleven years on, she has gone back to hospital to give birth several times and takes a fatalistic attitude. "I knew [each time] I was between life and death but I was no longer afraid," she says.

Ms Salahu's experience is not unusual.

Nigeria is the world's most dangerous nation in which to give birth.According to the most recent UN estimates for the country, compiled from 2023 figures, one in 100 women die in labour or in the following days.

That puts it at the top of a league table no country wants to head.

In 2023, Nigeria ed for well over a quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths worldwide. That is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth in a year, which works out at one death every seven minutes.

The frustration for many is that a large number of the deaths – from things like bleeding after childbirth (known as postpartum haemorrhage) – are preventable[i].

[i]Chinenye Nweze was 36 when she bled to death at a hospital in the south-eastern town of Onitsha five years ago. "The doctors needed blood," her brother Henry Edeh re. "The blood they had wasn't enough and they were running around. Losing my sister and my friend is nothing I would wish on an enemy. The pain is unbearable.".

Among the other common causes of maternal deaths are obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe abortions.

Nigeria's "very high" maternal mortality rate is the result of a combination of a number of factors, according to Martin Dohlsten from the Nigeria office of the UN's children's organisation, Unicef.

Among them, he says, are poor health infrastructure, a shortage of medics, costly treatments that many cannot afford, cultural practices that can lead to some distrusting medical professionals and insecurity.

"No woman deserves to die while birthing a child," says Mabel Onwuemena, national co-ordinator of the Women of Purpose Development Foundation.

She explains that some women, especially in rural areas, believe "that visiting hospitals is a total waste of time" and choose "traditional remedies instead of seeking medical help, which can delay life-saving care".

For some, reaching a hospital or clinic is near-impossible because of a lack of transport, but Ms Onwuemena believes that even if they managed to, their problems would not be over.

"Many healthcare facilities lack the basic equipment, supplies and trained personnel, making it difficult to provide a quality service."

Nigeria's federal government currently spends only 5% of its budget on health – well short of the 15% target that the country committed to in a 2001 African Union treaty.

In 2021, there were 121,000 midwives for a population of 218 million and less than half of all births were overseen by a skilled health worker. It is estimated that the country needs 700,000 more nurses and midwives to meet the World Health Organization's recommended ratio.

There is also a severe lack of doctors.

The shortage of staff and facilities puts some off seeking professional help.

"I honestly don't trust hospitals much, there are too many stories of negligence, especially in public hospitals," Jamila Ishaq says. "For example, when I was having my fourth child, there were complications during labour. The local birth attendant advised us to go to the hospital, but when we got there, no healthcare worker was available to help me. I had to go back home, and that's where I eventually gave birth," she explains..

The 28-year-old from Kano state is now expecting her fifth baby.

She adds that she would consider going to a private clinic but the cost is prohibitive.

Chinwendu Obiejesi, who is expecting her third child, is able to pay for private health care at a hospital and "wouldn't consider giving birth anywhere else".

She says that among her friends and family, maternal deaths are now rare, whereas she used to hear about them quite frequently.

She lives in a wealthy suburb of Abuja, where hospitals are easier to reach, roads are better, and emergency services work. More women in the city are also educated and know the importance of going to the hospital.

"I always attend antenatal care… It allows me to speak with doctors regularly, do important tests and scans, and keep track of both my health and the baby's," Ms Obiejesi tells the BBC.

"For instance, during my second pregnancy, they expected I might bleed heavily, so they prepared extra blood in case a transfusion was needed. Thankfully, I didn't need it, and everything went well."

However, a family friend of hers was not so lucky.

During her second labour, "the birth attendant couldn't deliver the baby and tried to force it out. The baby died. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. She still had to undergo surgery to deliver the baby's body. It was heart-breaking."

Dr Nana Sandah-Abubakar, director of community health services at the country's National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), acknowledges that the situation is dire, but says a new plan is being put in place to address some of the issues.

Last November, the Nigerian government launched the pilot phase of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (Mamii). Eventually this will target 172 local government areas across 33 states, which for more than half of all childbirth-related deaths in the country.

"We identify each pregnant woman, know where she lives, and her through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond," Dr Sandah-Abubakar says.

So far, 400,000 pregnant women in six states have been found in a house-to-house survey, "with details of whether they are attending ante-natal [classes] or not".

"The plan is to start to link them to services to ensure that they get the care [they need] and that they deliver safely."

Mamii will aim to work with local transport networks to try and get more women to clinics and also encourage people to sign up to low-cost public health insurance.

It is too early to say whether this has had any impact, but the authorities hope that the country can eventually follow the trend of the rest of the world.

Globally, maternal deaths have dropped by 40% since 2000, thanks to expanded access to healthcare. The numbers have also improved in Nigeria over the same period - but only by 13%.

Despite Mamii, and other programmes, being welcome initiatives, some experts believe more must be done – including greater investment.

"Their success depends on sustained funding, effective implementation and continuous monitoring to ensure that the intended outcomes are achieved," says Unicef's Mr Dohlsten.

In the meantime, the loss of each mother in Nigeria - 200 every day - will continue to be a tragedy for the families involved.

For Mr Edeh, the grief over the loss of his sister is still raw.

"She stepped up to become our anchor and backbone because we lost our parents when we were growing up," he says.

"In my lone time, when she crosses my mind. I cry bitterly."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yk8ek86kdo

This is why no president, vice president, senator, house of reps member, minister, governor, deputy governors, state assembly member & local government chairman uses our local hospital, they are all seek medical attention abroad, including the druglord that spends half his lifetime in .


Nigeria healthcare is a mess, the politicians will rather loot the money for the hospitals to take care of themselves in foreign hospitals leaving the poor Nigerian to die in poorly staffed & equipped hospitals.

Until we started seeing all our politicians as our mortal enemies that should not live, stories like this will keep coming out of Nigeria

Who done read make him summarize

H

GOD with u

The stats are scary.
Even the ones alive, the Nigerian government can't protect them, let alone take decisive measures against maternal mortality rates.

Very sad
Maternal and child mortality has been a recurrent problem.

A

Ok

Another WORLD RECORD for Tifnubu. From the Happiest and the Fastest developing country in the world under GEJ to the most INSECURE AND DANGEROUS country to be born in.
Indeed what APC cannot destroy in Nigeria does not exist.

PDP really destroyed this country. Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world and we topping the charts as the worse country to give birth in. I when I campaigned against Jonathan then people were been sentimental but these are the results of PDP's misrule. If not for President Bola Tinubu's hard work and resilience, Nigerians would have been in IDP camps in neighboring countries. May God bless president Bola Tinubu. Amen

In 2023, Nigeria ed for well over a quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths worldwide. That is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth in a year, which works out at one death every seven minutes.

It is a regrettable reality that the current government is doing virtually nothing to reverse this alarming trend. Instead, it remains overly preoccupied with political maneuvering and pursuing a re-election it has not earned.

Tinubu is a monumental failure

Every sector of the economy is in total collapse under his watch . I pray that he resigns soon for a more competent person to step in

Fact

:oi

Chai

Okay
Make dem evaluate this Sub-Saharan Africa well, something is wrong somewhere.
......eee be like where DeviL land when God chase am from heaven.

And the Bible says
Woe! unto that part of the earth that receiveth the deviL for.......

Just take a look at the countries , All them Shitholes. And the Ant of Africa is even worse .

My heart breaks reading this.
ing for over 25% of maternal death in the world is the worst of any country!

Chai

Another fake report.

LagosOrigin:
Tinubu is a monumental failure

Every sector of the economy is in total collapse under his watch . I pray that he resigns soon for a more competent person to step in

I believe your personal economy has also collapsed already.

LagosOrigin:

Normally I supposed swear for you but the humanity in me no allow me

Go ahead and swear. You know say God na your servant.

We know the Emergency lovers of Nigeria will love this news.

In fact if you’re looking for the real enemy of Nigeria, look no further, they are the ones.

Because how can you get excited and happy when you hear unfounded negative news about your country upset but be sad when you hear positive news about your country.

lexy2014:

if it is a fake report, can you please share the real report?
meanwhile, why does tinubu not patronise local government hospitals but prefers to go to ?

Go back and read the report again and you will know it is as fake as they come.

The report says 1 deaths every 7 minutes which means 1,440 deaths everyday from childbirth. Which also translate to 45,000 dying from Childbirth monthly.

Haba!!! Make una dey use una brain nau.

WorldRichest:

Ask your brothers in UK and US they will tell you how bad the health care system is there and why they are rushing to employ health care workers from Africa and Asia

As your brother and sisters in UK how many lost their lives on awaiting list to see doctors?

FAKE REPORT
FAKE STATISTIC
FAKE ANALYSIS
FAKE CORRELATION
FAKE COLLATION

NIGERIA IS A GREAT NATION.. FORGET IT..OUR HEALTH CARE DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT NOT INVESTING ENOUGH IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IS STILL TOP NOTCH

See countries when them add us with

keymatt:
Another WORLD RECORD for Tifnubu. From the Happiest and the Fastest developing country in the world under GEJ to the most DANGEROUS country to be born in.
Indeed what APC cannot destroy in Nigeria does not exist.

when was Nigeria ever d happiest people in d world, u people are yet to go over the loss of Jonathan.

U are just pained your pot of stew got carried away from u

Yes

it says "bulaba"

saintbillion:
Who done read make him summarize

One thing I appreciate Lagos state for is the revamping of PHCs.

It has helped a lot who ordinarily wouldn't go to hospital.

Until Primary health care centers are well equipped.....

All this no concern tpain

How he will kpai for aso rock be his headache

They even need the infants blood more for their diabolic venture

....

Just as herod perish, just as pharoah perish so will he perish

This is the biggest lie of the century