Lagos Health Advocates Push to Save Mothers' Lives

Nigerian doctors are renewing their push for clearer medical rules that could prevent hundreds of women from dying during pregnancy each year.

Health advocates want Lagos State to bring back the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications, a policy introduced in 2022 to help doctors make lifesaving decisions during pregnancy emergencies. The guidelines were suspended just months after launch following opposition from religious groups who misunderstood their purpose.

Project manager Rumunse Obi says the controversy stems from confusion about what the guidelines actually do. They don't change abortion laws but simply help doctors interpret existing rules when a pregnancy threatens a woman's life.

The push comes alongside "Dr Majek and the Ghost," a film project that tells the fictional story of a physician haunted by preventable deaths. The narrative mirrors real experiences of Nigerian women who die from pregnancy complications despite available medical interventions.

Lagos still records about 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to state Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi. For context, developed nations typically see fewer than 20 deaths per 100,000 births.

Dr. Temitope Adekanye, a consultant obstetrician at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, says Nigeria has needed clearer clinical guidance for years. Current laws create uncertainty for healthcare providers trying to save lives in emergency situations.

Why This Inspires

While unsafe procedures contribute to maternal deaths, they're only part of a larger challenge that also includes bleeding, high blood pressure, and delayed emergency care. The Lagos government is tackling these issues head-on with new programs.

In April 2025, Lagos partnered with national health authorities to launch emergency obstetric care financing, ensuring women get lifesaving treatment regardless of ability to pay. The state is also expanding Mother and Child Centres and training traditional birth attendants to meet medical standards.

Special Adviser on Health Kemi Ogunyemi put it simply: saving mothers and babies should come before payment concerns. That commitment, combined with clearer medical guidelines, could transform outcomes for thousands of families.

The suspended guidelines were developed over several years with input from medical and legal experts specifically to support time-sensitive decisions in high-risk cases. Nearly four years after suspension, advocates believe it's time to finish what was started.