Nigeria recorded an estimated 82,000 maternal deaths in 2020, with its maternal mortality ratio reaching 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births — one of the highest rates globally. The figures have renewed calls for a fundamental shift in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities where access to skilled care remains severely limited.
Against this backdrop, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vedran Stefanovic, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist from Finland, has called for a stronger rural healthcare system built around early antenatal registration, trained frontline workers, timely diagnosis, and effective referral networks.
Stefanovic spoke on Wednesday in Kano at the Second International Congress of Ultrasound and Perinatal Medicine. The African Perinatal Society organised the event in collaboration with the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), and Bayero University, Kano.
Rural communities must form the front line
The three-day congress, running from August 26 to 28, centers on the
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