Professor Oliver Ezechi, Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), has urged the Nigerian government and private sector to support a nationwide maternal and infant mortality audit to address Nigeria’s alarmingly high death rates among pregnant women and newborns.
Speaking during NIMR’s monthly media briefing, Ezechi, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, highlighted that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate stands at a staggering 512 deaths per 100,000 live births.
He emphasized the importance of mandatory autopsies as part of a national audit to accurately determine the causes of these deaths and help prevent future tragedies.
Ezechi explained that most maternal deaths are sudden and unexpected, making autopsies essential for understanding their root causes. “Any sudden, unexplained death requires an autopsy. Most maternal deaths fall into that category,” he noted.
Reflecting on his training during the era of former Health Minister Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Ezechi recalled a system where every maternal death in hospitals was reported, investigated, and reviewed.
This approach, he said, held healthcare professionals accountable and ensured that women were not denied treatment based on financial limitations.
“Back then, if a woman died, you had to explain why. It made doctors prioritize care for pregnant women regardless of payment,” he added.
He further stressed that only autopsies conducted by pathologists can uncover rare causes of maternal deaths, such as amniotic fluid embolism—often misdiagnosed as more common conditions like preeclampsia.
A structured review involving obstetricians, pathologists, and other professionals, he said, would allow the system to learn from each case and improve outcomes.
Ezechi urged the Federal Ministry of Health to reintroduce mandatory investigations of maternal deaths using a “no-blame” approach, similar to the one implemented under Ransome-Kuti.
“The goal is to learn, not to blame. When people fear punishment, they hide information. We need openness to understand what went wrong and how to fix it,” he said.
Echoing his sentiments, NIMR’s Director General, Professor John Obafunwa, called for a national coroner law mandating autopsies to provide reliable data on maternal deaths. He emphasized that this cannot be done in isolation but must be part of a nationwide initiative.
Beyond audits, Ezechi shared positive strides in child health. He highlighted the success of NIMR’s SARMAAN project (Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance Mass Administration of Azithromycin), which has reached over four million children.
The initiative, launched in 2022, aims to reduce infant mortality and has shown high safety rates among children aged one to 59 months.
Additionally, NIMR’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission programme has enrolled over 7,000 women since 2004, with fewer than one percent of babies born in the institute testing positive. Ezechi attributed this success to strict adherence to global treatment protocols and early antiretroviral intervention.
ImEzechi called on journalists, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to bring maternal and infant mortality back to the forefront of national concern and commit to systemic reforms rooted in accountability, science, and compassion.