Nigeria's Stakeholders Demand Urgent Action on Maternal Mortality Crisis

In Nigeria, stakeholders gathered at a Pathfinder event to address the country's alarming maternal mortality crisis. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reported an estimated 517 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with 70% of deaths occurring among girls under 18.

The event emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to prioritize funding for family planning (FP) and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) programs. Stakeholders, including media professionals, called for action to prevent avoidable deaths, citing unsafe abortions, hemorrhage, premature births, and malnutrition as leading causes.

The workshop, organized by Pathfinder International Nigeria and supported by PPDARO and Jhpiego Kenya, aimed to enhance journalists' and social media influencers' understanding of FP and MNCH issues. Participants highlighted the critical need to address healthcare infrastructure challenges and improve access to healthcare services to reduce maternal mortality rates across Nigerian states.