Maternal Mortality is defined by the World Health Organization as “the death of the woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.
In 2019, a consortium consisting of Africare, EpiAFRIC, and Nigeria Health Watch with support from MSD for Mothers launched an 18-month project called “Giving Birth In Nigeria”. The project focused attention on the issue of catalysing accountability for maternal mortality. They wanted to ensure that the death of every woman related to pregnancy or in childbirth is made to count; no woman should die giving life.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, one in seven of the 358,000 global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. That is more than 50,000 women dying needlessly per year in Nigeria. Ninety-five percent of deaths in childbirth are preventable. Delays in seeking care, reaching care, and receiving care are the leading causes of unattended births and ultimately death. Only a third of Nigerian women deliver in a facility or attended by someone skilled. Many deliveries and maternal deaths therefore remain underreported and unexplained.
In 2026, a UK-based Nigerian Healthcare Leader, Toba Ogunremi, is taking actionable steps to reduce the number of deaths of women during pregnancy or childbirth. He is targeting in the first move to fund 43 emergency surgeries for mothers in need.
Toba plans to use his milk of human kindness to raise genuine awareness about Nigeria’s maternal mortality burden. He equally hopes to use the initiative to throw some light on the roles of spirited Nigerians, community leaders, religious groups, traditional birth attendants, midwives and family units in the maternal delivery pathway.
At the time of this report on 28th April, 2026, it was reported that his team visited the labour room and maternity ward at the Federal Medical Center, idi-aba and 11 mothers were promptly discharged with their bundle of joy and outstanding bills were cleared.
In the days ahead, activities have been lined up to identify mothers in need and reach out to them especially the ones needing emergency surgeries targeted to avert deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.
It appears that Toba is embarking on this life saving move with his personal money. It is not yet clear if he will involve other spirited Nigerians or donor agencies in subsequent moves to address the growing challenges.
