Nigeria ranks second in the world for maternal deaths – WHO

Nigeria is now ranked second globally among nations with a high rate of maternal fatalities, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization, WHO.

According to the research, titled the 2023 Progress research, Nigeria accounts for 29% of the world’s annual total of 290,000 maternal mortality cases and may not meet the SDG target by 2030.

Additionally, the nation has the highest rate of infant and child fatalities worldwide. The study also singled out 8 additional nations with high rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and maternal deaths, including Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

According to the research, maternal and newborn death rates in Nigeria have remained stable since 2015, happening roughly annually.

The global health organization issued a warning that, based on current trends, over 60 nations, including Nigeria, may fail to meet the Sustainable Development Goals’ deadline for reducing maternal, neonatal, and stillbirth death.

As more women continued to pass away from pregnancy-related complications over the last three years, Nigeria moved up to second place in the report that attributed the development to COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

Growing poverty, deteriorating humanitarian situations, and insufficient funding plaguing nations worldwide are further concerns to be concerned about.