Posted on: Fri 16-05-2025

In a time when maternal deaths remain a devastating reality for thousands of Nigerian families, a quiet revolution is taking place—one that is rewriting the narrative, restoring hope, and saving lives.

Across all 20 local government areas of Lagos State, a groundbreaking maternal health initiative, MamaBase, has achieved what many believed impossible: a 99.9% reduction in maternal deaths.

Implemented by the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRHC), this trailblazing programme is proving that with the right approach, empathy, and data, maternal mortality doesn't have to be a national tragedy—it can be a preventable outcome.

“We’re not just delivering statistics—we’re delivering babies safely, and more importantly, we’re keeping their mothers alive,” said Dr. Olajumoke Oke, Acting Executive Director of MRHC, during a moving press briefing in Lagos.

In stark contrast to Nigeria’s staggering 75,000 maternal deaths in 2023, MamaBase is a clarion call for transformation. It reached 7,883 pregnant women between October 2023 and September 2024, guiding 7,473 of them to safe delivery under skilled medical care. The result? A maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 123 per 100,000 live births—a massive drop from the national average of 1,047.

Behind Every Number, a Life Saved

From providing free antenatal scans and emergency care, to ensuring that 80% of births took place in health facilities, MamaBase addressed the root causes of maternal mortality. Yet, behind these numbers are real women—mothers who might have been lost but instead got to cradle their newborns.

Out of the women who died, seven delivered outside health facilities, a heartbreaking reminder that access alone is not enough—trust, education, and community support are key.

“Our impact isn’t just measured in lives saved, but in behaviours changed,” noted Fehintoluwa Aluko, MRHC’s Research and Project Coordinator. “We’re seeing more women seek care early, stay engaged throughout pregnancy, and deliver where help is available.”

A Movement, Not Just a Project

For Olufunmilola Owosho, Chief Operating Officer of MRHC, the journey is just beginning. The team is now entering Phase 2 of MamaBase, targeting 12 high-risk LGAs, including Alimosho, Ikorodu, Mushin, and Epe—areas where the need is urgent and the risks, high.

“Our goal is to connect 5,000 women annually to formal healthcare,” she said, announcing plans to expand the programme to Kaduna State.

But despite the gains, the path is not without hurdles. Lack of emergency transportation, high costs, unfriendly care, and deep-seated cultural beliefs still keep many women away from life-saving services.

“Maternal death is not just a medical failure—it’s a systemic one,” said Dr. Oluwatosin Laleye, MRHC’s Senior Programme Manager. “From poverty to neglect, the barriers are many—but so are the solutions.”

Compassion Meets Competence

MRHC’s strategy is comprehensive and deeply human. From telehealth messaging and home visits to training over 2,200 health workers in respectful, emergency care, the initiative leaves no stone unturned.

“Eighty percent of participants reported not just safe deliveries, but satisfaction with the care they received,” said Mr. Lekan Olagunju, MRHC’s Senior Data Manager.

“This is what dignity in healthcare looks like.”

A Vision for Every State, Every Woman

As the Lagos State Ministry of Health and partners like Sterling One Foundation rally around the project, the message is clear: MamaBase is not just a success story—it’s a model to be replicated nationwide.

“We’re not just reading data,” said Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation. “We are witnessing the survival of women who would otherwise be mourned. MamaBase is a movement powered by evidence, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to equity.”

With consultations now underway in Kaduna and beyond, MamaBase is setting the pace for a future where no woman dies while giving life.

One woman at a time. One community at a time. The future of maternal health in Nigeria is being rewritten—and it begins here.

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