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By Chinyere Anyanwu
Stakeholders have emphasised the need to take concrete and sustained action to reduce Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate as the country’s avoidable maternal mortality rate is estimated at 993 per 100,000 live births as of 2023.
This grim picture of Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate was painted by the President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Prof. Okechukwu Ikpeze, while delivering a lecture during the 8th edition of the Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Memorial Annual Lecture at the University of Lagos College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Speaking on the topic, “Human Reproduction through Evolutionary Perils: Moving Nigerian Women from Danger to Safety”, Prof. Ikpeze said Nigerian women are still passing through very perilous pregnancies and childbirth.
Ikpeze, who identified medical causes of maternal mortality as haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, sepsis and unsafe abortion, stated that Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate places it among countries with the greatest maternal mortality burden globally without any appreciable reduction over time.
The SOGON president who noted that the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country have the highest maternal mortality ratios, said, “finding the way forward to better save the lives of Nigerian women during childbirth requires the identification of important stakeholders and forging strong partnerships to achieve desired goals.”
He said early detection and treatment will go a long way in tackling the challenge, adding, “if by targeted medical interventions women experiencing these complications are promptly and adequately treated, a sizeable proportion of maternal deaths will be eliminated.
“Effective government and stakeholder interventions require a clear and comprehensive understanding of the events and underlying factors that contribute to preventable maternal deaths.
“Reducing maternal deaths requires more than broad policy commitments; it depends on reliable evidence, careful review of each death and the translation of findings into practical action.”
Speaking on government’s efforts to put an end to maternal deaths, Prof. Ikpeze noted that despite commendable government initiatives and stakeholder collaboration, several gaps continue to militate against the effective reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
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“These include inadequate funding and delayed release of resources, weak implementation of policies across different levels of government, poor referral systems, inadequate emergency transport, limited availability of essential medicines and commodities, weak accountability mechanisms, and persistent sociocultural barriers that delay timely care-seeking.”
He added: “Addressing these gaps requires sustained political commitment, stronger coordination, improved financing, functional health systems and continuous engagement with communities.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who was represented by Prof. Oluwole Familoni, Chairman, Board of Trustees of Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture, lauded the donor of the fund for her magnanimity, stating that from inception, the fund has continued to impact research, maternal health of women and people at various levels.
She appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to consider giving similar endowment to the university, noting that the institution has a track record of responsibly managing all gifts and donations given to it by its partners in progress.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, appreciated the kind gesture of the donor and her family’s painstaking support for the initiative over the years.
Prof. Ashiru said, “over the years, this annual lecture has become one platform for knowledge sharing, reflection, and policy dialogue on issues central to public health and well-being of women. It also sustains the legacy of late Mrs. Abimbola Omololu-Mulele, whose generosity and vision make this lecture significant.
“Pregnancy and childbirth should be life-affirming experiences, yet many Nigerian women continue to face preventable risks. Maternal safety must involve access to quality health care, control of social barriers, gaps in reproductive education, and delays in seeking or receiving medical attention or demand urgent and sustained action.
“Moving Nigerian women from danger to safety requires stronger maternal health services, accessible family-planned reproductive health care, effective public education, and timely, affordable, and respectful treatment for every woman.
“Scientific innovation must be supported by evidence-based policies, community engagement and quality opportunities. Together, these efforts can save lives, protect families, and make safe motherhood a reality for more women across Nigeria.”
