News

Accessing healthcare: An arduous journey for pregnant women in northwest Nigeria

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Accessing healthcare: An arduous journey for pregnant women in northwest Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

In the bustling emergency ward of Jahun General Hospital’s maternity department, the rhythm of activity beats with urgency and determination, like a pulse in the air. In this hospital, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) collaborates with the Jigawa state Ministry of Health to provide comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care and fistula care. Since commencing services in 2008, MSF teams have assisted 90,000 deliveries.
Nigeria is the third country in the world, after South Sudan and Chad, where a woman is most likely to die giving birth, according to the World Health Organisation. With an average of more than 1,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births each year, Nigeria is far from the global target for 2030 of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, as set under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Maternal mortality rates far exceed the country average in northern Nigeria, where more than half of the country’s estimated 200 million people live. In Jigawa state, the most significant factor is the limited access pregnant women have to antenatal care and delivery care for complications in childbirth, which frequently occur.
Unity Enuebuke, MSF Nursing Activity Manager, has been working in Jahun General Hospital for more than 10 years. “We see a lot of women with serious complications, with the most common ones being anaemia, haemorrhage and eclampsia,” she explains. The high number of patients means the maternity wards are often fully occupied, if not over capacity. Unity says, “We regularly have up to two women sharing a bed, and depending on the type of complications we see, things can escalate very quickly.”
Ramatu
Ramatu, a mother of two, suffered life-threatening eclampsia—seizures due to high blood pressure—when she delivered her first baby in Jahun hospital. This is her second time here, overcoming the considerable distance from home. “I live five hours away from Jahun General Hospital. There is no hospital where I live, and the closest one does not open at night,” she explains. In Jigawa state, many of the estimated 749 primary healthcare centres do not have the drugs, healthcare workers and medical equipment to serve the thousands of women of childbearing age, despite efforts from public health authorities, the current healthcare infrastructure does not come close to meeting the needs of the population.
This dire situation leaves pregnant women who want to attend a healthcare facility with limited choices such as giving birth at home, and if complications arise, embarking on a treacherous journey to try to reach one that is functioning.
It is also not enough that healthcare facilities are available, they must also be affordable. The economic reality in this region, worsened by soaring inflation rates, makes it difficult for people to afford hospital fees, drugs or even transportation to health facilities.
The result is that women become hesitant to go to the hospital, preferring to give birth at home with the help of more affordable traditional birth attendants, hence increasing the risk of experiencing complications.
Khadijah
Women have given birth at home for centuries, but mother’s and baby’s survival can hinge on preparing and planning for managing complications, which may also occur without warning. In Jigawa state, health professionals and facility-based delivery rates remain low with up to around 80% of deliveries occurring at home.
Nurse Unity says, “Most times, family members don’t bring the mother to the hospital until they see that the baby is not coming out and the mother herself is having seizures.”
Khadijah, a 58-year-old traditional birth attendant in Aujara community, Jigawa state, understands the value of hospital care if she can’t manage a complication, but has experienced women’s hesitation firsthand. “Some women take my advice when I say they should go to the hospital, while some refuse to go to the hospital because they say that they are used to giving birth at home.”
In many communities in Jigawa state, pregnant women often require permission from their husband or mothers-in-law to visit hospital. This practice is compounded by a trend of early marriage, at an age when women are not fully informed about pregnancy and are not physically ready to carry a child.
Khadijah explains that for some, “it is their husbands that prevent them from going to the hospital. Some men don’t see the relevance of antenatal care, while others don’t want another man to treat their wives.”
1.

What needs to be done?
To tackle maternal mortality, a multitude of factors must be addressed. State authorities and international organisations must scale up their activities and increase funding to healthcare in the region, ensuring that budget allocations for primary healthcare centres are properly utilised and thorough planning and strict implementation processes are in place. In 2023, MSF teams assisted 15,754 deliveries, performed 1,911 caesarean sections and completed 43,785 antenatal consultations. Yet, it is still a drop in the ocean when looking at the needs of women in Jigawa state.
Primary healthcare facilities, which are often the first point where pregnant women seek healthcare, need to be equipped with trained personnel, equipment and resources to manage childbirth-related complications. “Eighty two percent of the cases we receive at Jahun General Hospital are complicated cases that could have been prevented at the primary healthcare level.” says Abdulwahab Mohamed, MSF medical coordinator. “Women, especially those of childbearing age, also have to be informed about their health and wellbeing through health empowerment programmes led by state authorities or other health stakeholders”.
Pregnant women must be encouraged to go for antenatal care where they can be informed about their pregnancy journey and what to expect. Efforts must be made to mitigate cultural practices that hinder women from seeking care in medical facilities. Women should be allowed agency and given freedom to make decisions for their health.
MSF supports the Jigawa state Ministry of Health in providing comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care. Our support started with vesicovaginal fistula repair in 2008, however, the project evolved into a 161-bed facility to care for pregnant women and newborns experiencing complications. MSF teams also provide maternal and neonatal healthcare in the states of Kano, Benue, Cross River, Zamfara and will open a large maternity hospital in Maiduguri in June 2024.

Accessing healthcare: An arduous journey for pregnant women in northwest Nigeria

News

Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth

Published

7 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth

The Gombe State Government, on Friday engaged stakeholders in the finance sector towards easing access to credit and ensuring the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

Malam Muhammad Magaji, the state’s Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development stated this in Gombe while declaring open the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, themed: “Guide to Access Credit”.

Magaji said that the meeting was aimed at creating an environment conducive for business growth by removing the bottlenecks around accessing finance.

He said that the administration of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has prioritised the development of businesses and industries to drive economic prosperity for the state, create jobs and improve the wellbeing of residents.

Magaji who was represented by Mr Jalo Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said that the state is now more deliberate in supporting small business owners to grow.

According to him, Yahaya-led administration’s commitment to MSMEs growth is to ensure inclusive growth of the economy in view of the role of such small businesses to economic transformation.

“We are engaging the financial institutions and relevant stakeholders to see how we can remove the barriers affecting access to credit to SMEs in the state.

“This is part of the current administration’s commitment to strengthening access to loan facilities that would give life to small businesses and help more youths start up businesses.

“We are very committed as a government to see to it that we provide all the needed supports to make doing business in Gombe State easy.

“Government will inject more money into the system to serve as collateral for business owners and also serve as guarantor to those who are willing to access finance,” he said.

On his part, Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Tourism,
Gombe State restated the state government’s commitment to industrialising the state and attracting investors.

Aliyu said that Yahaya’s administration had invested a lot to boost industrial growth and turn the state into the industrial and evonomic hub of North East.

Mr Kabiru Tsoho, the SABER focal person for Gombe State said that the SABER Programme is a World-Bank project aimed at easing businesses towards accelerating the growth of the economic sector.

Tsoho said the engagement would help remove impediments to accessing finance and encouraging business growth.

“This will help improve business environment and encourage investment which would provide more opportunities for jobs to be created and for economic empowerment of women and youths,” he said.

Mr Sanusi Abdullahi, Chairman, Traders Association of Nigeria, Gombe State chapter commended the initiative by the state government and World Bank to make doing business easy.

Abdullahi said with improved access to loans, there would be more youth employment and improvement in the standard of living of residents of the state.

Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth

News

Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau

Published

9 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army under Operation Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (OP Enduring Peace), have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered arms and ammunition in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

The operations, conducted on Thursday, were part of ongoing efforts to mop up illicit arms and ensure a peaceful yuletide season within the Joint Operations Area, military sources said.

In the early hours of the day, troops, in conjunction with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), raided a suspected criminal hideout at Gwender Village in Bokkos Local Government Area, following intelligence reports.

Although the suspects reportedly fled before the arrival of the troops, a search of the hideout led to the recovery of one fabricated AK-47 rifle with a magazine, one fabricated pistol and several rounds of ammunition of different calibres.

In a related operation, troops working with a DSS Tactical Team mounted a snap checkpoint at Mairana in Mangu Local Government Area, based on credible intelligence.

During the operation, a Fulani youth was intercepted and arrested while in possession of two boxes of ammunition containing 1,400 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The suspect and the recovered items are currently in custody for further investigation, while troops have intensified follow-up operations to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal syndicate.

The military reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements to ensure peace and security across Plateau State and the wider Joint Operations Area.

Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau

News

Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs

Published

9 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has launched an empowerment package worth N1,000,000,000 targeting thousands of young residents, mostly GSM repairers and technicians.

The initiative targets 1,050 youths who will be trained on phone repairs and maintenance; about 3,000 other apprentices will receive cash.

Each of them will receive a complete set of modern working tools, including an 852D hot air rework station, a separating machine Kc2025, a battery booster S2025 pro, an adjustable temperature soldering iron V900c, a digital multimeter DT9205Plus and a precision screw driver set 60 in 1, to enhance their own repair businesses.

In addition to the tools, all 1,050 GSM repair trainees will receive direct cash support to serve as seed capital for their ventures.

The disbursement comprises four categories: the first group, consisting of 26 beneficiaries each receiving N1 million; the second group, 189 beneficiaries each receiving N300,000; the third group, 835 beneficiaries each receiving N100,000; and the fourth category, 3,500 apprentices, each receiving N100,000 and different calibres of working tools. The training cost is N482 million.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, Zulum said: “It gives me immense pleasure and a deep sense of fulfilment to stand before you today on this historic occasion—the official launch of the disbursement of N1 billion empowerment scheme alongside the training of operators at the GSM Market here in Maiduguri.”

The governor also recalled several initiatives by his administration on investment in human capital development.

He said, “Only recently, this administration took a bold and visionary step by sponsoring two hundred youths to study aircraft piloting and aeronautic engineering at Isaac Balami University.

“This initiative is designed to place Borno State on the global aviation map and demonstrate that, despite our challenges, we are preparing our youths for world-class opportunities. The process is almost completed.

“So far so good, about 400 Borno state indigenes are pursuing PhDs and master’s degrees abroad. In addition, 100 of our youths are currently studying Medicine and related courses in China.”

The occasion was attended by the senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan; members of the House of Representatives; the deputy speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Engr Abdullahi Askira; commissioners and senior government officials.

Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs