Doctor Flags Maternal Mortality as National Emergency

The CEO of HIGC Health Consultants, Dr. Owen Omo-Ojo, has described Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis as a national emergency.

Omo-Ojo, while speaking on News Central’s Jasiri on Thursday, added that the situation requires urgent intervention.
“Nigeria is the most dangerous place in the world for a woman to give birth. One woman dies every two minutes,” the doctor said, highlighting the urgency of the issue.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 260,000 women died from maternal-related complications in 2023 globally, with Nigeria accounting for over 30 percent of the total, approximately 75,000 deaths.

The country’s maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 993-1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the global target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 births under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1). This data places Nigeria among the most high-risk environments globally for childbirth.

In contrast, countries like India have made significant progress despite having a population of over 1.4 billion. India has reduced its maternal mortality ratio to between 88 and 93 deaths per 100,000 live births, moving closer to global targets.

In light of these concerning figures, the doctor attributed the high death rate to five major delays within the healthcare system, which include delays in deciding to seek care, delays in seeking care, delays in reaching healthcare facilities, delays in receiving adequate treatment, and delays in coordination and referral.

According to Omo-Ojo, a key contributing factor to this issue is the lack of awareness among pregnant women, many of whom are unaware and unable to identify danger signs or understand the importance of antenatal care.

She called for urgent action to address these delays and save Nigerian mothers. She stressed, “This is a national emergency that we should all be concerned about.”

To reduce preventable maternal deaths across Nigeria, health experts agree that the country needs improved healthcare access, better system coordination, and increased public awareness.