The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s high maternal mortality burden, identifying preventable medical complications, barriers to timely healthcare and persistent gender inequalities among the challenges putting pregnant women at risk.

Musa Elisha, a Gender and Reproductive Health Specialist with UNFPA, highlighted the concerns during a two-day capacity-building training for journalists on accurate reporting of the agency’s Ninth Country Programme. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in partnership with UNFPA and Journalists for Public Health.

According to Elisha, conditions such as postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and sepsis contribute to maternal deaths, even though timely access to appropriate medical care can prevent many of these fatalities.

Postpartum haemorrhage involves severe bleeding after childbirth, while pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are serious pregnancy-related conditions associated with high blood pressure. Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening response to infection, can also cause severe complications during and after pregnancy.

Other conditions, including malaria, HIV, diabetes and hepatitis, may increase the risks associated with pregnancy. Elisha also raised concerns about unsafe abortion and the difficulties some women and girls face in obtaining appropriate reproductive healthcare.

The scale of Nigeria’s maternal health crisis is reflected in estimates published by the World Health Organization, UNFPA, UNICEF, the World Bank Group and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Their 2025 report estimated that Nigeria recorded approximately 75,000 maternal deaths in 2023, accounting for 28.7 per cent of the global total. This places Nigeria among the countries with the highest maternal mortality burdens worldwide.

Elisha also drew attention to the lasting health complications that women may experience even when they survive childbirth. One such condition is obstetric fistula, a childbirth-related injury that can cause continuous leakage of urine or faeces and may result in social isolation and other difficulties if left untreated.

He said maternal health outcomes differ across Nigeria, with women in some northern communities facing particularly severe challenges. Factors contributing to these inequalities include poverty, limited access to quality healthcare, gender-related barriers and difficulties making independent decisions about seeking medical attention.

In some communities, women may delay seeking care because they lack financial resources, transport or the authority to make healthcare decisions without approval from others. Even where facilities exist, poor awareness of available services and dissatisfaction with the quality of care can discourage women from using them.

Elisha urged journalists to play a more active role in addressing these challenges by investigating healthcare delivery, tracking public expenditure and explaining where women can obtain maternal and reproductive health services.

He stressed that reporting should go beyond presenting statistics to examine whether government programmes and donor-funded interventions are producing measurable improvements in people’s lives.

The UNFPA specialist also encouraged journalists to work with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community organisations to challenge harmful beliefs and improve awareness of the importance of antenatal care, skilled childbirth assistance and timely medical treatment.

Speaking during the training, UNFPA Gender and Gender-Based Violence Specialist Dr Zubiada Abubakar urged journalists to investigate gaps in maternal healthcare, including the availability of functional primary healthcare centres, emergency transport and qualified medical personnel in rural communities.

She said reporters should examine whether facilities have the infrastructure and staff required to provide safe services, while also tracking available records on deliveries, emergency caesarean sections, patient outcomes and avoidable complications.

Abubakar said UNFPA was supporting interventions in 14 states to improve access to emergency community-based healthcare and strengthen the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response framework.

The framework is designed to help health authorities identify the circumstances surrounding maternal and perinatal deaths, determine preventable factors and use the findings to improve healthcare services. Its emphasis on learning and accountability is intended to help institutions address systemic weaknesses rather than simply assign blame.

Abubakar also highlighted the need to address obstetric fistula, describing it as an important but often overlooked part of the maternal health crisis. She urged the media to report on affected women with dignity and sensitivity, avoiding sensationalism and language that blames survivors for their circumstances.

She stressed that interviews with survivors must be based on informed and voluntary consent. Access to healthcare, financial assistance or other support must never depend on a survivor agreeing to speak to journalists.

The specialist further encouraged media organisations to use accurate medical terminology, protect personal information and report maternal deaths within the wider context of healthcare access, funding and service delivery.

She called for closer scrutiny of government-funded programmes, including rural maternal transport schemes, and urged journalists to examine whether public facilities are adequately equipped and staffed to provide essential care.

Bauchi State Commissioner for Information Dr Usman Shehu Usman, represented by a director in the ministry, also emphasised the importance of responsible reporting on sensitive health issues. He said journalists had a role in challenging misinformation, improving public awareness and holding institutions accountable while protecting vulnerable people.

UNFPA’s Ninth Country Programme runs from 2023 to 2027 and focuses on strengthening health and data systems, improving humanitarian responses and addressing discriminatory gender and social norms. Maternal health, reproductive healthcare and the prevention of gender-based violence form part of the programme’s priorities.

The discussions underscored the need for coordinated action involving governments, healthcare providers, development partners, communities and the media. Reducing maternal deaths will require not only awareness but also dependable healthcare facilities, skilled personnel, timely emergency treatment and sustainable domestic funding.

For Nigeria, the challenge is to turn existing policies and interventions into accessible, reliable services so that women can receive appropriate care before, during and after childbirth.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia