2 days Ago By Lara Adejoro
Lara Adejoro Stakeholders have called for urgent actions to reduce the alarming rate of deaths of women during childbirth in Nigeria, which they said was avoidable with accessible and affordable healthcare. They expressed worry that the country has continued to record one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally. The stakeholders made the call at the 2025 edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala themed, “Strength in Every Story: Creative Expressions for Women’s Health,” organised by the Nigeria Health Watch in collaboration with the National Gallery of Arts and MSD for Mothers.
The Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, stated that maternal health impacted families, communities, and nations, while disparities in its outcomes, particularly in countries like Nigeria, remained alarmingly high. “As of today, Nigeria continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with more than 1,000 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. This is far off from the UN Sustainable Development Goal to reduce the global MMR to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
“This stark reality is a reminder of the work that remains to be done to ensure every woman has access to the care she needs to survive pregnancy and childbirth,” she noted. Ihekweazu stated that when women have the economic means to support themselves, they are more likely to have access to quality healthcare, make informed decisions about their health, and advocate policies that prioritise their well-being. “Women who control economic assets can negotiate for better healthcare services, ensure their families have access to resources, and demand that their needs be addressed in both healthcare and policy settings.
But it is not just about healthcare. It is about the empowerment of women ensuring that they have the power, the platform, and the opportunity to make decisions that affect their lives. “Women’s economic empowerment is the foundation for building a future where maternal health outcomes are improved, where maternal deaths are drastically reduced, and where women’s voices are no longer silenced or ignored,” she stated.
The Director of MSD for Mothers, Nigeria and Kenya, Iyadunni Olubode, noted that providing women with access to healthcare enhanced the overall health and well-being of the family, saying women served as the primary health caretakers in the household. “It’s the women that are encouraging and ensuring that the men take their medicines, remember the immunisation dates, and take the children for immunisations. This serves as an opportunity to not only enhance women’s health through family planning but also to improve the health and well-being of her entire family,” she said.
The President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control,and Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, highlighted the need to raise awareness about women’s health. Bagudu called on professionals from all industries to integrate women’s empowerment into their work, acknowledging that women often bear the responsibility of not only their families but entire communities. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: [email protected] Tags childbirth Curbing maternal deaths High maternal mortality Improved maternal health National Gallery of Arts and MSD for Mothers Nigeria Health Watch SDGs three Stakeholders seek reduction in deaths of women Women empowerment.
