Maternal Mortality in Nigeria, who is to blame?
A pregnant woman in labour, simply identified as Kemi, died after allegedly being denied medical treatment at a private hospital in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, because her husband could not afford a N500,000 deposit. The development, which was trending on X Nigeria, was first shared by her husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, on Instagram in February, 2025.
A distressing video captured the expectant mother inside a car, visibly weak, as her husband desperately tried to keep her conscious. He repeatedly called her name and urged her to stay strong for their children. “My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong, look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me,” he pleaded. The husband, in a post announcing the death of his wife, Kemi, revealed that they initially sought help at a private hospital but were turned away because they couldn’t afford the ₦500,000 deposit.
He added that they were referred to a General Hospital in Epe, but she didn’t survive the journey. In his post, Folajimi wrote, “Private hospitals in Nigeria. The doctor told me to deposit 500k and I begged him to start doing whatever is needed to save my wife, we needed emergency support while I run around for the money but they drove us out like they don’t care. Even the doctor knows that Epe from Lakwe is way too far for such her condition. Before we rushed her to Epe, she was gone.” As the video continues to spread online, many concerned individuals have flooded the comment section, expressing their outrage and sympathy.
TV personality, Reuben Abati, who recently blamed the man for failing to financially prepare for the birth of his child when he had nine months to do so on TV, argued that it was irresponsible of the man to visit the hospital asking for his pregnant wife to be attended to without making any financial commitment. Responding to Abati, Mr. Folajimi, in a video shared online on April 10th, said he saved about N100,000. Unfortunately, his wife had an emergency and he did not have the N500,000 the hospital demanded, but would have raised it if he was given enough time.
‘’With due respect, this is not my first child. When my wife was pregnant, we were taking care of her to the best of my ability and I never came public or to you to ask for you to borrow me money for antenatal or feed my children…”
This scenario, sadly depicts what some pregnant women living below the poverty line in Nigeria go through. It is either the mother, baby or mother and the baby die from complications during pregnancy, delivery or after delivery.
Maternal mortality in Nigeria is a significant public health concern, with the country accounting for approximately 20% of global maternal deaths. A breakdown of the situation shows that Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Nigeria is alarmingly high, with an estimated 1,047 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. This translates to a lifetime risk of 1 in 22 for a Nigerian woman dying during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum/post-abortion, compared to 1 in 4900 in developed countries. This is disheartening.
The high MMR in Nigeria is attributed to various factors, including: Limited access to skilled healthcare. Many women in Nigeria lack access to skilled birth attendants, particularly in rural areas. There is also poor quality of care. Healthcare facilities often lack essential resources, equipment, and trained personnel, leading to suboptimal care. Cultural and social barriers. High MMR can also be linked to traditional practices, such as female seclusion and preference for traditional birth attendants this can hinder women’s access to modern healthcare. There is also delay in seeking care. Women often experience delays in recognising the need for care, reaching healthcare facilities, and receiving adequate treatment. Some women do not take antenatal care seriously.
Inequities and disparities is one of the major high rate of MMR in Nigeria. Maternal mortality disproportionately affects poor, rural women with limited access to healthcare services. Worse off is medical tourism. The wealth gap and regional disparities exacerbate these issues. Whereas, the rich and those in position of authority easily travel out of the country to attend to their medical health, 95% of Nigerians are at the mercy of what is available in our health facilities.
There is need for government to effectively address maternal mortality in Nigeria, using a holistic approach that includes; improving healthcare infrastructure by strengthening primary healthcare facilities and ensuring availability of essential resources and trained personnel. Government should enhance community engagement by promoting awareness and utilisation of maternal healthcare services through community outreach and education, addressing cultural and social barriers to healthcare access and utilisation, strengthening healthcare systems by Improving data collection, healthcare financing, and supply chain management to support effective maternal healthcare delivery.
Maternal mortality in Nigeria is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, making it difficult to pinpoint a single entity or group to blame. While we wait on government to do the needful, we have to be responsible to ourselves, health and actions. It is appalling to note that those who can barely cater for themselves and families, have the highest number of children. Why would a man who has more than two children, desire to have more in a country like Nigeria where cost of living, education, health and others is very high. A country where savings is difficult, where over 130 million people are struggling for scarce resources.
The above scenario would have been averted if the family had considered family planning, attend government facility or make plans to save. The video posted by the bereaved husband said she was very weak and the hospital in its response, said she needed to transfusion immediately. She was obviously anemic while pregnant. Government and Policy Makers should provide adequate funding, implement policies, and prioritise maternal healthcare. Ultimately, reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria requires a collaborative effort from government, healthcare providers, communities, and individuals to address these complex, interconnected factors. No woman should die for bringing forth another life.
