1/50

Accessing healthcare: an arduous journey for pregnant women in Northern Nigeria

Nigeria is the 3rd country in the world where a woman is most likely to die giving birth after South Sudan and Chad, with more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 births . In 2020, 82,000 women died giving birth in Nigeria, accounting for 28,5% of estimated global maternal deaths . In the north, maternal mortality is much higher than the rest of the country, as it is the case in the North-East where the mortality rate is around 1500 women per 100,000 births .

In Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria, it is considered that 80% of deliveries still happen at home. Access to health is extremely challenging for women in this region, where primary health care facilities are often non-functional, lacking necessary equipment, resources and trained staff, or unaffordable. Moreover, early marriage, lack of social and educational programs about sexual and reproductive care also has a detrimental impact on women’s health, as they cannot be informed of what to do in case of complications.

Since 2008, Médecins Sans Frontières runs maternal activities through the repairing of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VFF) and obstetric and neonatal activities with surgical capacities at Jahun general hospital in Jigawa state. MSF teams also provide maternal and neonatal healthcare in the states of Kano, Benua, Cross River, Zamfara and will open a big maternity hospital in Maiduguri in June 2024. Since the start of activities, MSF has assisted 90,000 deliveries and performed 6,000 vesico vaginal fistula (VVF).

Given the great burden faced by women when seeking for healthcare services, MSF teams are increasing the efforts to improve their health conditions.

MSBSTO42305

Linked assets