Academy Urges Action on Maternal Mortality

ABUJA, Nigeria – The maternal mortality in Nigeria crisis remains unacceptable and requires urgent action alongside stronger epidemic preparedness and measures to stem the migration of health workers, the Academy of Medical Sciences has warned.

The President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Frank Giwa-Osagie, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by the academy’s Secretary, Mayowa Owolabi, ahead of the institution’s inaugural Presidential Colloquium.

Giwa-Osagie said deaths linked to pregnancy, childbirth and preventable newborn conditions continue to claim thousands of lives despite advances in healthcare.

“There is no need and no justification for the continued loss of lives related to pregnancy and childbirth,” he said.

He also warned that Nigeria must strengthen its preparedness for disease outbreaks by applying lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring epidemics, including Ebola and Lassa fever.

The academy said these and other critical health challenges will dominate discussions at its maiden biennial Presidential Colloquium scheduled for July 30 in Lagos.

The event, themed “Nigeria’s Health at a Crossroad: Confronting Workforce Shortages, Epidemic Risks and Maternal Mortality,” will bring together medical experts, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to develop practical recommendations for improving healthcare delivery.

According to Giwa-Osagie, participants will examine strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and epidemic response systems while identifying sustainable solutions to improve healthcare services nationwide.

He said another major focus will be Nigeria’s worsening healthcare workforce shortage, driven by the continued migration of doctors, nurses and other skilled professionals.

“Experts will examine the causes of the trend and propose strategies to retain skilled medical personnel in the country,” he said.

The academy will also unveil its Rapid Response Committee Initiative, designed to support faster and more coordinated responses to public health emergencies across Nigeria.

The Academy of Medical Sciences is an independent professional body that provides evidence-based advice on medicine, medical education, scientific research and public health policy.

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Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian AHR Senior Correspondent, has over 8 years’ experience reporting on health, crime, education, investigations, and development issues across Nigeria and Africa. With dual degrees in Economics, she combines analytical skill with compelling storytelling. Widely recognised for her public health and humanitarian reporting, she earned a Nestlé Award nomination for compelling human-interest journalism. Follow her on Twitter @mirian_linus.

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