A team of Nigerian scientists and public health experts at the Maternal and Reproductive Health
(MRH) Collective has developed a breakthrough model for reducing maternal deaths among
poor and vulnerable women.
The initiative, known as MamaBase, was piloted in Lagos in 2023
and has already produced dramatic results.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 79,500 Nigerian women died from
childbirth-related causes in 2023, nearly 29% of maternal deaths globally. In response, scientists
working at MRH Collective created a data-driven framework that they named M.I.L.E.S. (Mapping, Identifying, Linking, Educating, Supporting) to identify and support
pregnant women in underserved communities.
Using this framework and proprietary tools, the
MamaBase team connected women to essential antenatal and delivery care and provided ongoing
guidance and monitoring throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
“Our model is simple but powerful,” said Prof. Bosede Afolabi, Founder and Chairman of MRH
Collective. “We start with data, and we stay with the woman through pregnancy, delivery, and
postpartum. And it works.”
Since launching in October 2023, the programme has enrolled 7,883 women in Lagos. Of these,
99.9% survived childbirth, a striking contrast to the national maternal mortality rate of 1,047
deaths per 100,000 live births. More than 80% of MamaBase participants delivered in health facilities with skilled birth attendants, and 60% completed four or more antenatal visits (an internationally recognised benchmark for quality maternal care).
The maternal mortality rate
among MamaBase participants dropped to just 123 per 100,000 live births, nearly ten times lower
than the national average.
Encouraged by the results, MRH Collective is expanding the programme to 12 additional local
government areas in Lagos and has launched a larger-scale version in Kaduna State, one of
Nigeria’s most affected regions, aiming to reach 10,000 more women by 2026.
“We are proving that maternal deaths in Nigeria are not inevitable,” said Professor Ngozi Orazulike, MRH Board member and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Port Harcourt. “With data, community health systems, and targeted support, we can save
thousands of lives.”
Dr Jumoke Oke, CEO of MRH Collective, added, “We now have the evidence. What we need is support to scale this lifesaving model nationwide”.