Every year, 75,000 women die in Nigeria in labour, which translates to one death every seven minutes. Nigeria’s spending on health is just 5 per cent of its total budget, way short of its 15 per cent target that it committed to under a 2001 treaty with the African Union
Nigeria is emerging as a global hellhole for expecting mothers. According to the UN estimates, one per cent of women die in labour or in the following days in the African country. In 2023, the country accounted for 29 per cent of all maternal deaths worldwide.
Every year, 75,000 women die in Nigeria in labour, which translates to one death every seven minutes.
Reason for deaths
Most of the deaths occur because of postpartum haemorrhage or bleeding after childbirth. According to experts, these deaths are completely avoidable if basic health infrastructure is provided.
Other reasons include obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe abortions, according to a BBC report.
According to Martin Dohlsten from the Nigeria office of the UN’s children’s organisation, Unicef, these complications are caused by a host of factors, including poor health infrastructure, a shortage of medics, costly treatments and cultural practices.
Mabel Onwuemena, national co-ordinator of the Women of Purpose Development Foundation told BBC: “No woman deserves to die while birthing a child.”
She explained how people in rural areas had started believing that visiting hospitals was “a total waste of time” and preferring “traditional remedies instead of seeking medical help, which can delay life-saving care”.
For others, seeking hospital services is impossible because of lack of transportation.
Lack of infrastructure and experts
Nigeria’s spending on health is just 5 per cent of its total budget, way short of its 15 per cent target that it committed to under a 2001 treaty with the African Union.
There is a massive lack of expert hands too.
In 2021, there were only 121,000 midwives for a population of over 218 million.
Less than half of all births in the country are attended by a skilled health worker. The country needs an additional 700,000 nurses and midwives to meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio.
There is also a significant shortage of doctors.
The lack of staff and facilities discourages some people from seeking professional medical help.
Worldwide, maternal deaths have decreased by 40% since 2000 due to better access to healthcare. In Nigeria, the improvement over the same period has only been 13%. Meanwhile, the loss of 200 mothers every day in Nigeria continues to be a tragedy for their families.