By Hajara Abdullahi
Across communities in Kano State, pregnant women continue to face risks associated with maternal mortality, with health workers working to save both mothers and babies despite a shortage of facilities and personnel.
Saadatu Idris, a middle-aged woman from Kofar Arewa, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, lay down on a sick bed in the Ecliptic Ward of the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, within the same state, after surviving a pre-eclampsia complication in the 30th week of her pregnancy.
Looking weak with a smile on her lips, the 32-year-old nursing mother said that during her ante-natal visits, the midwives always urged them to check their blood pressure. Still, she never knew how deadly the disease was until the tragic incident occurred on a fateful Friday evening.
“I attend ante-natal care(ANC) in Kofar Arewa, PHC at Gezawa LGA, but they never told us anything about pre-eclampsia. I’ve also seen and heard stories of women who lost their lives in the process of childbirth,” Saadatu stated.
Narrating her ordeals, Saadatu said it all started with a mild headache and fever when she stood up to urinate before she lost consciousness.
“I could recall that when I stood up to urinate, I felt as if I would fall. I quickly called my neighbour, who later told me she summoned another neighbour to fetch my husband,” she added.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the incidence of pre-eclampsia is seven times higher in developing countries like Nigeria (2.8 per cent of live births) than in developed countries (0.4 per cent).
According to Nigeria Health Watch, Kano State has the highest maternal mortality rate with 377.8 per 100,000 live births, which exceeds the national target of 288 per 100,000 live births.
Eclampsia is one of the conditions associated with high maternal mortality rates, highlighting the critical need for improved strategies to address maternal health in Kano State.
For the likes of Saadatu, who live in rural communities, a shortage of health facilities and mobility issues may lead to prolonged complications before getting health assistance. Still, Saadatu’s life was saved with quick support from health workers at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
The mother of three revealed how she woke up and found her baby beside her at the hospital where she was hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
“I was brought to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in an unconscious state. So, I can’t really tell what happened,” she said.
She noted that her husband told her what transpired after she regained her consciousness.
“After I regained myself, my husband told me how I was rushed to the hospital after I had lost balance and became unconscious. He was summoned immediately, and I was brought to Murtala Mohammed Hospital because the PHC in my community doesn’t handle such severe cases. The health workers admitted me and gave me the necessary support.”
“I thank God and the health workers who saved my life,” she added.
Saadatu is one among thousands of women who have experienced pre-eclampsia in Kano State, with many more at risk of experiencing it due to a lack of awareness and a shortage of trained health care workers, particularly in PHCs.
The World Health Organization has designated May 22 as World Pre-eclampsia Day to raise awareness about the condition.
Aisha had given birth to eight children at the PHC in her community with no record of severe complications. Still, the ninth delivery tested her resolve when she was told by the midwife at Koki Primary Healthcare that her blood pressure was high and she needed to visit a secondary health facility.
“It was during my routine ante-natal care that the health workers said my blood pressure was at 220(high), it keeps going up, and they later advised me to visit a secondary health facility,” Aisha said.
Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains one of the highest globally, with an estimated 1047 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020, data from the Annals of African Medicine journal reveals.
Speaking on how she felt when she was told that the continued high blood pressure she is experiencing has led her to develop mild pre-eclampsia, Aisha said she thought it was the end of her and the baby.
“I felt shocked, sad and frustrated when I was told that I had mild pre-eclampsia and it may escalate to become severe if not properly handled,” Aisha said.
She further narrated how she was referred to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, where she was admitted without paying a Kobo, and she successfully delivered her baby with the help of the doctors and midwives.
“I am happy I scaled through. I thank God and the health workers at Murtala Specialist Hospital in Kano,” she said, adding that, “expectant mothers should not hesitate to attend antenatal care for their health and the well-being of their babies.”
Maimuna shares her painful story
Unlike Aisha and Saadatu, Maimuna, a 15-year-old expectant mother who lives in the rural community of Zakirai in Gezawa LGA, was a first-time mother. She lost her baby after an emergency Cesarean section was conducted to save her life from Eclampsia complications.
“I was eager and happy to carry my first fruit. I’ve bought all the necessary baby things I need. During one of my visits to the Zakirai Primary Health Care, the midwives told me my blood pressure is high and that I may not be able to deliver my child without complications,” Maimuna said.
Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are significant contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, with a prevalence of 4.51% for pre-eclampsia and 1.39% for eclampsia among pregnant women. This is in stark contrast to the global average MMR of 211 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Lying calmly on a sick bed in her matrimonial home, Maimuna looks gloomy and weak, considering the trauma she’s going through after the death of her baby. She added that during her ANC, health workers had advised them to seek medical support when they see unusual signs.
“I had never known pre-eclampsia was deadly until I developed complications, and before I was rushed to Murtala Mohammad Hospital, the baby had died because of the distance from Zakirai to Kano metropolis, but the health workers did their best to save my life. However, I lost my child in the process,” she said in a sober tone.
Speaking about her antenatal visits, the first-time mother said she started her ANC six months after pregnancy, which was late.
“I started my ANC visits late because I thought my baby and I were healthy since I’ve never had any signs of a severe illness, only some mild morning fever and headaches,” she added.
She noted that early detection through antenatal visits helped prevent escalating the situation.
“The first thing they asked for was my hospital card, where they saw my records. I’m advising pregnant women to always go for antenatal visits,” she stated.
Antenatal reducing danger
Aisha and Saadatu’s lives were saved due to prompt detection during their routine antenatal visits, emphasizing the need to strengthen sensitization, particularly at the grassroots level, to reduce maternal mortality, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Expert’s view
Dr Hannatu Nuhu, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, said pre-eclampsia is a situation where a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and if not properly managed, escalates to eclampsia. She added that pre-eclampsia can occur before delivery (ante-partum), during labour (intra-partum), and after delivery (postpartum).
“Pre-eclampsia affects all systems and organs in the body; it causes swelling in the brain, which leads to convulsions, and there may be blindness from the detachment of the retina. Fluids will be entrapped in the victim’s lungs (a common cause of death). The liver can rupture-that is why they sometimes complain of abdominal pains. It also affects the kidneys and blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding,” She stated.
Speaking on the signs and symptoms, Dr Nuhu said those who have risk factors for developing pre-eclampsia experience the following warning signs: difficulty in breathing, insomnia, severe headache, blurred vision/blindness, epigastric pain, and vomiting due to high blood pressure.
“The problem is from the placenta during development, where some factors that cause widespread damage to the blood vessels are released,” she added.
She further noted that frequent ante-natal visits are vital in addressing pre-eclampsia.
“When a woman presents herself early during the ante-natal period, she will be identified as belonging to the low-risk or high-risk side. If she is at high risk, we take the necessary steps to save her life. If the blood pressure is high, the ante-natal visit will be frequent, and the expectant mother will be placed on medication,” Dr Nuhu stated.
She added that the recent WHO antenatal model, “Coustic pregnancy experience,” which requires a pregnant woman to have at least 8 contacts with a healthcare provider (doctors, nurses, midwives), is providing more avenues for pregnant women to share their predicament with health workers for prompt assistance.
“Families should support pregnant women to attend antenatal care early, communities should provide social support for pregnant women, healthcare workers need to ensure that they’re well informed and trained to handle both mild and severe cases, and the government should provide the needed funds,” she added.
Describing pre-eclampsia as one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, Dr Nuhu emphasised the role of the family, government, and society in addressing it.
“Pre-eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Kano State and the Northwest. It’s a recurring case. We receive more than 10 cases every day because this is a referral centre and we have a dedicated ward for pre-eclampsia with more than 20 bed spaces,” she said.
Increased health budget reducing maternal mortality in Kano
In 2025, Kano State government allocated a health budget of ₦31.57 billion for personnel expenditures, which increased significantly to ₦56.61 billion in 2026, reflecting a 79% rise in personnel spending (BudgIT State Sectoral Budget Expenditure Data).
This implies that capital expenditure for health increased to ₦42.18 billion in 2025 from ₦130.78 billion in 2026, indicating a dramatic 209% increase, suggesting a strong focus on infrastructure and long-term investments in health (BudgIT State Sectoral Budget Expenditure Data).
Overall, Kano’s total health budget for the two years reached ₦172.96 billion, with an average annual budget of ₦86.48 billion, which reflects a robust commitment to enhancing healthcare services.
The increase has led to increased investment in providing health facilities and training health workers, which has helped reduce maternal mortality.
Collaboration Between Kano State Government And International Partners:
According to Dr. Ofuoma Omo-Obi, Executive Director of West and Central Africa Health Options (WCAHEALTH) in Kano State, maternal mortality has declined, with recent data showing a decrease in deaths from approximately 1,025 to 937 per 100,000 live births.
“Nigeria accounts for about 27 per cent of maternal deaths globally, with Kano recording the highest number in the country due to its population,” he said.
He added that 14,000 babies were delivered in local governments with no maternal deaths, about 4,500 women were given calibrated drugs, and 507 who progressed to postpartum haemorrhage were treated successfully.
Before this program, those 507 would have died.
Speaking on the decline in maternal mortality during an event in May 2026, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, outlined three key government commitments behind the reduction in maternal deaths.
He said the state had trained frontline health workers in managing labour, pregnancy and post-delivery care, while ensuring that primary healthcare centres and hospitals were adequately equipped and supplied.
Call For More Investment
Due to its high population, more investments are needed to address maternal mortality, particularly in rural areas where poverty and inadequate skilled workers lead to the loss of both mother and baby.
Primary health care doesn’t attend to severe issues like pre-eclampsia, which may lead to untimely death before the victims are rushed to a secondary health facility due to distance and other challenges.
Therefore, the government should continue to train more health workers at the primary level to attend to women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia before referring them to a secondary health facility.