Safe Motherhood Day: No Woman Should Die Giving Life — Expert

As Nigeria marks National Safe Motherhood Day, a Public Health Physician and Maternal Health Advocate, Dr. Owen Omo-Ojo, has called for urgent and sustained action to end preventable maternal deaths across the country, stressing that no woman should die while giving life.

Dr. Omo-Ojo, who is also of HIGC Health Consultants, on Saturday said maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health and social justice challenges, noting that for many families, childbirth still ends in tragedy rather than celebration.

According to her, most maternal deaths in Nigeria are preventable, with postpartum haemorrhage severe bleeding after childbirth identified as one of the leading causes.

She explained that while the condition is fast and life-threatening, it is highly manageable when detected early and treated promptly.

She, however, lamented that in many health facilities, blood loss during childbirth is still estimated visually instead of being accurately measured, a practice she said often leads to dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment.

She further highlighted the importance of adopting practical, evidence-based interventions such as the World Health Organisation-backed E-MOTIVE protocol, which promotes accurate measurement of blood loss and rapid-response treatment to improve maternal outcomes.

Despite updated national guidelines and policy adoption, she noted that implementation remains weak across both public and private health facilities, creating a critical gap that continues to cost lives.

She, therefore, called for stronger political will, increased financing, and disciplined implementation of maternal health interventions, adding that safe motherhood is a fundamental right and must be prioritised at all levels of government to safeguard the lives of Nigerian women.