Stakeholders have advocated for an urgent end to preventable maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Partfinder International Nigeria, Advocacy and Implementation of MNCNH Innovations, the Centre of Excellence for Population Health Policy, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact made the advocacy in a statement on Monday in commemoration of this year’s International Midwives Day.
Speaking on the theme “Midwives: Critical in Every Maternal Crisis—Frontline Heroes Against Postpartum Haemorrhage,” AIM-MNCNH and other organisations emphasised the irreplaceable role midwives play in saving lives and issued an urgent call to action.
According to the organisations, this theme aligns with the global theme, ‘Midwives: Critical in Every Maternal Crisis,’ and reflects Nigeria’s urgent maternal health priorities, especially the fight against postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which is the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country.
They further urged the federal government to prioritise national adoption and scale-up of the E-MOTIVE strategy in all maternity care settings and invest in training, recruitment, and equitable deployment of midwives, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
In her remarks, Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, Senior Country Director of Pathfinder International Nigeria, emphasised that, “Midwives are not just health workers — they are lifelines. We cannot celebrate them without committing to equip, protect, and empower them to save lives.
According to available data, Nigeria has over 1,000 women die per 100,000 live births — a staggering toll, largely driven by PPH, a condition that is both preventable and treatable.
“Yet, too many midwives remain on the frontlines without the tools, training, or support they need to stop the bleeding and save lives.
“Midwives are often the only providers of skilled care for women during childbirth, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“They are the ones who stay up through the night with labouring mothers, who improvise when systems fail, and who fight for life in conditions no health worker should ever face.
“The AIM MNCNH Innovations Consortium is calling for bold, coordinated action to transform this unacceptable reality. At the heart of our advocacy is the E-MOTIVE strategy — a WHO-endorsed, evidence-based clinical care bundle proven to reduce severe PPH by up to 60 percent. It includes E-MOTIVE: E- Early detection of postpartum haemorrhage; M- Massage of uterus; O- Oxytocic drug; T- Tranexamic acid; IV- IV fluids; E- Examination of the genital tract + Escalation—all delivered together,” the statement reads in part.
