Very high rates of maternal mortality means that giving birth to a child in Nigeria could be a death sentence. Poverty is a significant factor in pregnant women not seeking the attention of health professionals and this is a huge risk when there are pregnancy-related complications.
DW, a German public service broadcaster went to Lagos to witness the work of an NGO struggling to stem this tide. Health workers from the MRHC provide early checkups and information to expectant mothers to prevent complications.
Nigeria has the highest maternal deaths in the world, even worse than war zones, with one death every seven minutes. Dozens of women die every day from complications during pregnancy and those deaths are preventable if there was better access to healthcare professionals.
The UN estimates that one woman in 100 die in labour or in the following days in Nigeria. In 2023, 29% of maternal deaths worldwide were in Nigeria. This is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth every year.
The Nigerian constitution in Chapter 2, Section 14(2)(b) states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. This provision is roundly ignored at all levels of government, leaving many Nigerian citizens, especially those without the means to gain access to decent healthcare gambling, with their lives during childbirth.
