Irrua:A gynaecologist, Dr. Qudus Lawal, has urged the government to expand ongoing healthcare programs and strengthen primary healthcare to significantly reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Lawal, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, emphasized that maternal mortality results from direct, indirect, and background factors. These include postpartum haemorrhage, obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders, coagulopathy, infections, malaria, and other conditions exacerbated by pregnancy. He also noted the impact of poor education, nutrition, and women’s empowerment on maternal health risks.
Dr. Lawal identified three major delays contributing to maternal deaths: delays in deciding to seek care, transportation challenges, and delays within health facilities. He suggested that improving women’s education and empowerment could encourage early healthcare-seeking behaviour, while efficient transportation and referral systems would facilitate access to appropriate emergency care.
He commended government reforms targeting high-burden local government areas, which have contributed to a 17 percent reduction in maternal mortality. However, he stressed the importance of expanding these programs to low-burden and rural areas. Dr. Lawal also called for the expansion of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) services across all healthcare levels, supported by effective referral and transportation systems.
Highlighting the critical role of primary healthcare facilities, Dr. Lawal urged the government to strengthen these centers and improve training for healthcare providers, noting that many women rely on them. These measures, he said, are necessary to accelerate progress toward reducing maternal mortality and prevent women from dying due to preventable pregnancy-related complications.
Nigeria continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality burdens, accounting for nearly 20 percent of global maternal deaths. According to the World Health Organisation, the maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria stands at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the global target of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.