Urgent Call for Maternal Health Action in Nigeria!
Nigeria faces a critical maternal mortality crisis, with a Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 814 per 100,000 live births.
ZFH is dedicated to addressing the critical challenge of maternal mortality in Nigeria, which is the second highest globally. The risk of a Nigerian woman dying from pregnancy related causes is 1 in 22, a stark contrast to 1 in 4900 in developed countries. Our findings, aligned with the latest WHO report, underscore Nigeria's urgent crisis, with the nation accounting for a sobering 29% of global maternal deaths. This is critical and quite alarming.
The struggle against maternal mortality in Nigeria is hindered not only by healthcare accessibility and quality but deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and perceptions. In many rural settings where ZFH services, women favor traditional birth settings over formal healthcare facilities, influenced by the perceived care quality and cultural practices. This preference seriously impacts the utilization of available healthcare services, despite advancements in the medical field. Solutions lie in improving access to skilled birth attendance, enhancing the quality of care in primary health centers (PHCs) and tertiary health facilities, and addressing the cultural perceptions and beliefs about maternal health care.
ZFH is committed to pioneering holistic approaches that bridge healthcare services with cultural sensitivities. Together with our team of medical personnel, we carry out routine antenatal care across PHCs in Central Nigeria (with the capacity to scale up, especially to the North East Region of Nigeria where insurgency and governance challenges have combined to create an epidemic of maternal mortality), where we not just distribute the basic antenatal drugs and malaria tests and treatments, multivitamins, but also distribute food packages as well as Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets. In order to break the cultural barriers and save the lives of both mothers and the unborn children, we have also taken the antenatal outreaches and advocacies (together with all the distribution of drugs, food packages and others) to many rural and underserved communities whose women are reluctant to visit the nearest PHCs, due to either cultural or economic reasons. Our mission is to transform perceptions of healthcare, making it more accessible, acceptable, and aligned with the needs of women across Nigeria. We aim to ensure that every mother has the chance to survive and thrive, breaking the cycle of maternal mortality that has stagnated in Nigeria since 2015.
As we face the reality of missing the SDGs target by 2030, ZFH calls for robust partnerships, innovative solutions, and community engagement to combat this silent crisis. ZFH cannot do this without your support, especially given the current economic crisis occasioned by the spiraling inflation, leading to an astronomical increase in the cost of delivering the urgently needed services to the communities. For ZFH, the situation is dire and critical. But we are committed. Our commitment reflects the urgency and the multifaceted approach needed to address this crises in Nigeria, while emphasizing the importance of understanding and integrating cultural beliefs and practices into healthcare solutions. We believe in the power of collective action to save lives and empower women, in order to ensure a healthier future for mothers and children across Nigeria.Join us. Together, we can make a difference. #MaternalHealth
