Abuja, Nigeria – Despite decades of development efforts, Nigeria remains the most dangerous country in the world for expecting mothers, accounting for a staggering 30% of global maternal deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, approximately 75,000 women die annually during childbirth in the country a rate that continues to alarm health experts and human rights organizations.

The primary cause of these deaths is postpartum hemorrhage, a condition that is highly treatable in nations with better medical infrastructure. Other contributing factors include eclampsia, sepsis, unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor. However, health professionals emphasize that most of these tragedies are preventable with timely intervention and adequate maternal care.

A National Emergency in Women’s Health

In many parts of northern Nigeria, where the health system is particularly weak and traditional birth attendants still oversee a majority of deliveries, maternal deaths remain shockingly frequent. In rural areas like Sokoto, Bauchi, and Zamfara, women often have to travel several kilometers sometimes on foot—to reach the nearest clinic, only to find no doctors, inadequate medical supplies, or even power outages during emergencies.

“What we are seeing is not just a health issue; it is a human rights crisis,” says Dr. Fatima Ahmed, a gynecologist with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). “No woman should die giving life. Yet in Nigeria, we’ve normalized this tragedy.”

Global Comparison: Nigeria vs. the World

To put this into perspective:

• Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) stands at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to just 19 per 100,000 in the United States and 7 per 100,000 in the United Kingdom.

• The global average is approximately 223 per 100,000 live births, according to the World Bank.

This means Nigerian women are more than 25 times more likely to die in childbirth than women in high-income countries.

Why So Many Women Die: Systemic Gaps

Experts attribute Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate to several interlinked factors:

• Underfunded healthcare system: Public health facilities are often understaffed and poorly equipped.

• Lack of skilled birth attendants: In rural areas, up to 60% of births occur without trained medical professionals.

• Low access to prenatal care: Only 57% of pregnant women receive the recommended four antenatal visits.

• Cultural and religious barriers: In some communities, health education and female autonomy are limited.

• Poor infrastructure and insecurity: Especially in conflict-ridden states in the North-East like Borno and Yobe, violence hampers medical outreach.

The Call for Urgent Reform

The Federal Ministry of Health has launched several interventions over the past decade, such as the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) coverage for pregnant women. Yet implementation has been inconsistent due to funding shortfalls, corruption, and a lack of political continuity.

Development partners like UNICEF, WHO, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continue to support maternal and child health initiatives, but local ownership and political will remain key to success.

“It’s not just about more hospitals. We need consistent, quality care—from pregnancy through postpartum,” says Professor Hadiza Shehu, a maternal health policy advisor in Abuja.

The Human Cost

Behind the statistics are real stories of loss: families shattered, children orphaned at birth, and communities burdened by grief. With over 200 million people, Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world. If maternal mortality remains unaddressed, it threatens the country’s social and economic future.

A Way Forward

To reverse this crisis, experts suggest:

• Increased federal and state funding for maternal health

• Training and deployment of more community midwives

• Upgrading rural health centers with equipment and power supply

• Education and awareness programs targeting both men and women

• Emergency transport systems for pregnant women in remote areas

Final Word

Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis is a preventable tragedy on a national scale. As the country works to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 which aims to reduce global maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 urgent action, robust investment, and community engagement will be key.

Until then, tens of thousands of Nigerian women will continue to risk their lives to give life a burden no mother should bear in silence.

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Last Updated on June 4, 2025 by kingstar