Nigeria Ranks 2nd In Maternal Deaths Globally
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked Nigeria as the second most endemic country in maternal death toll in the world.
In its 2023 Progress Report, WHO said Nigeria accounts for 29% of worldwide toll in 290,000 cases every year and may miss the SDG target by 2030
The nation’s incidence of neonatal and child deaths also ranked as one of the highest globally.
The WHO 2023 Progress Report on Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing still birth published on its verified official website, explained that India remains world’s most endemic, with 540 women and children dying per 1000 in 2022.
The report highlighted eight other countries with high maternal, neonatal and stillbirths to include Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
It also showed that maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria have stagnated since 2015, approximately occurring every year.
WHO, warned that based on current trends, over 60 countries, including Nigeria, may miss maternal, newborn, and stillborn mortality reduction targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The global report attributed the trend to strains exerted on many nations’ healthcare delivery by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, Nigeria took the second position as more women continued to die from pregnancy-related problems in the last three years.
Other factors of concern include growing poverty, worsening humanitarian conditions and inadequate funding bedeviling countries across the globe.
