Nigeria is facing a deepening public health emergency as new data reveals that more than eighty two thousand women die every year from pregnancy related complications, with most deaths linked to the rising cost of medical care and limited access to skilled health services. Health specialists say the figures are unacceptable for a country with Nigerias population and resources.
The latest findings, cited by medical professionals and development agencies, rank Nigeria among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Analysts warn that the real number may be even higher due to under reporting in rural communities.
Doctors working in public hospitals say the situation has reached a breaking point. Many families delay treatment until complications become fatal because they cannot afford basic antenatal services or emergency interventions such as caesarean sections. The cost of a single night in a standard public hospital can exceed the monthly income of many households.
A senior obstetrician in Abuja described a recent case that has drawn national attention. A young pregnant woman was rushed in for an emergency operation but died alongside her unborn child. The doctor recounted how the husband, overwhelmed and desperate, begged the medical team to focus on saving his wife, saying he could bear the loss of the baby but not his spouse. The emotional incident has reignited the debate over the collapse of affordable maternal care.
Public health advocates argue that the system continues to fail because reforms are slow and healthcare financing is weak. They warn that without aggressive government action, the death toll will continue to rise.
President Bola Tinubu has been urged by medical associations and civil society groups not to ignore the situation. They argue that expanding mandatory health insurance, enforcing accountability in hospitals, and increasing investments in primary healthcare are essential steps.
Healthcare workers say preventable deaths will persist until access improves. Many Nigerians rely on self medication and unverified remedies due to high medical costs. In rural locations, women often give birth at home or in unregulated clinics lacking trained personnel or equipment.
Experts insist that reducing maternal mortality must become a national priority and that sustained political will is needed to reverse the trend.
