… says Nigeria accounts for 29% of world maternal deaths
It has been recognized that the overwhelming majority of maternal deaths in Nigeria are tied to preventable scientific conditions equivalent to Postpartum Hemorrhage, a Severe Bleeding Identified because the main reason for loss of life instantly after childbirth, and preeclampsia and eclampsia, a Pregnancy-induced hypertension that accounts for a good portion of maternal fatalities.
The assertion was made by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Gender/ Reproductive Health Specialist, Musa Elisha, throughout a two-day Capacity Strengthening Training for Journalists on correct reporting of UNFPA’s ninth Country Programme, organised by the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in partnership with the UNFPA and Journalists for Public Health(J4PD).
He stated, “Other conditions are Sepsis, an an infection that accounts for 15% of deaths; unsafe abortion due to restrictive authorized frameworks, the place younger and teenage ladies regularly resort to unsafe, clandestine procedures, contributing to 13% of maternal mortality; obstetric embolism, accounting for 8% of the recorded fatalities; and conditions equivalent to malaria, HIV, diabetes, and hepatitis, which closely compound being pregnant dangers.
“Beyond mortality, survival typically comes with extreme morbidity. For each lady who dies in childbirth, 20 to 30 others undergo extreme, long-term problems, most notably obstetric fistula.
“The disaster displays clear geographic and social disparities. Maternal mortality charges are closely concentrated in the northern elements of Nigeria, whereas the South-East and South-West areas report decrease figures.
“This divide is pushed largely by deep-seated gender inequality. Due to a scarcity of autonomy, many pregnant ladies are unable to make impartial selections to search medical care, delaying therapy till life-threatening problems come up.
“Furthermore, while health facilities have been established across various regions, many women remain unaware of their locations or dissatisfied with the available services.”
Musa emphasised that the media is a crucial pillar in reversing these tendencies by monitoring information, showcasing impacts, and guaranteeing transparency in how donor funds are deployed, equivalent to UNFPA’s joint efforts with nationwide well being centres, demonstrating that seen, documented progress efficiently attracts essential worldwide funding.
He famous that journalists should transcend reporting statistics to actively create consciousness about healthcare facility areas and dismantle social limitations by partnering with influential conventional, spiritual, and neighborhood leaders, including that the media can spearhead the behavioural shifts vital to guarantee ladies and ladies can safely entry maternal and new child healthcare providers.
Musa additionally stated that Nigeria accounts for a staggering 29% of the worldwide maternal mortality burden, making it the very best contributor to maternal deaths worldwide in accordance to current UN experiences.
The disaster is additional highlighted by information from the 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which reveals that out of an estimated 20 million deliveries in the nation, roughly 68,000 ladies die yearly from pregnancy-related problems.
He known as for a strategic partnership with the media to enhance healthcare transparency, drive donor funding, and lift grassroots consciousness.
Also talking by means of her presentation, a UNFPA Gender/GBV Specialist, Dr Zubiada Abubakar, challenged the media to look past statistics and expose essential gaps in maternal healthcare, stressing the necessity for deep investigative reporting on government-funded healthcare applications, together with the effectiveness of rural maternal transport schemes, whereas strictly sustaining the dignity and privateness of weak survivors.
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She stated that as a part of its ongoing intervention, UNFPA is actively supporting 14 states throughout Nigeria to broaden emergency community-based healthcare entry and strengthen the implementation of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) framework.
Abubakar stated, “The programme adopts a strict ‘no name, no blame, no shame’ method, enabling communities and governments to observe, assessment, and forestall maternal fatalities transparently.
“I urge the media to consider the precise capability and operational requirements of major healthcare centres throughout the nation.
“Journalists are inspired to observe and examine essential metrics, together with Infrastructure performance, which is an evaluation of what number of rural healthcare services are really operational and in the event that they meet primary high quality requirements.
“The media also needs to observe native data, together with the precise variety of profitable deliveries, emergency caesarean sections and sufferers discharged versus these misplaced to avoidable problems.
“Also, journalists ought to examine the midwifery and staffing Gaps, verifying the commencement charges of state midwifery faculties and investigating why certified healthcare staff are lacking from rural services.
“Maternal well being extends past mortality to long-term morbidity, most notably obstetric fistula—a devastating childbirth harm that leaves ladies incontinent.
“UNFPA has significantly expanded its regional support, including the establishment of a 15-bed maternity and fistula repair unit at a government maternity hospital located roughly four to five hours from a northern state capital.”
Abubakar urged journalists to doc these deeply private journeys of the affected victims, stating that they need to function underneath strict moral requirements by shifting away from sensationalism, pity, or victim-blaming, and cling to the core pointers.
She stated that written or documented verbal consent should be utterly voluntary and knowledgeable, stressing that offering healthcare providers or help must not ever be made conditional on a survivor agreeing to be interviewed.
The UNFPA GBV Specialist stated that media reporting ought to defend the privateness and dignity of the victims, including that media organisations should use correct medical terminology, distinguishing clearly between mortality and morbidity.
She additionally stated that the media, as a method ahead, ought to be sure that information experiences contextualise maternal well being not as remoted tragedies, however as systemic failures, including that media narratives ought to humanise the victims as moms, wives, and valued neighborhood members whereas urgent each state and nationwide governments to improve home funding for medical health insurance and social safety schemes.
In his remarks, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Information, Dr Usman Shehu Usman, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, emphasised that the media stays a strategic associate in driving public consciousness and guaranteeing authorities accountability.
“Reporting on these delicate points requires deep professionalism, absolute accuracy, and unwavering respect for the dignity and privateness of survivors.
“As media practitioners, you have a distinct responsibility to challenge misinformation and give visibility to the vulnerable groups in our communities,” the Commissioner said.
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