By Bashir Bello

Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi, Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Population, Health, and Policy (ACEPHP) at Bayero University Kano (BUK), has revealed that Northwest Nigeria bears the highest burden of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and maternal mortality in the country.

Speaking at a women’s health seminar organized by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) in Kano, Prof. Galadanchi, represented by Prof. Baba Musa, highlighted the urgent need to address PPH through innovative strategies.

She emphasized the adoption of an approach called E-Motive, which has been proven to reduce PPH complications by 60%. “PPH is a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria. The Northwest region has the highest burden in the country,” she said.

The E-Motive trial, conducted in Nigeria and other countries, provides a structured plan for preventing and managing PPH. Findings from the trial have been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and integrated into Nigeria’s national guidelines for maternal care.

Prof. Galadanchi explained that E-Motive helps healthcare workers detect PPH early, intervene appropriately, and prevent complications. She stressed the importance of training health personnel and creating an enabling environment for effective implementation.

Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, noted that 70% of pregnant women in the state still deliver at home, a trend the government is working to reverse to improve maternal health outcomes.

In his remarks, Yemi Abodurin, Senior Technical Advisor at CCSI, called on the media to hold governments and healthcare providers accountable for improving maternal health in Nigeria.