Aisha Muhammed was in the final phase of her pregnancy when convulsions and dangerously high blood pressure signaled eclampsia, a condition that remains a leading cause of maternal death. In her village, the local clinic had no doctor, and the nearest capable care was about 40 kilometers away in Maiduguri, a city long marked by conflict and danger for civilians.
Despite the peril, Muhammed made it to Maiduguri and underwent a cesarean section the following day, delivering twins in April. “Even though children are a source of joy, if I will have to go through the same ordeal again, I am afraid of getting pregnant,” she said, tears welling as she recalled the harrowing experience.
Her story reflects a broader, more terrifying trend in Nigeria’s northeastern region, where pregnancy and childbirth are increasingly perilous due to ongoing violence and instability. The resurgence of the Boko Haram militant group has compounded the danger, forcing roads to close and driving many doctors and other health workers to flee. The disruption is further aggravated by a shift in international aid; hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign assistance from the United States, once Nigeria’s biggest donor, have reportedly disappeared under the Trump administration this year. With conflict cutting off access and weakening health infrastructure, safe, skilled obstetric care remains hard to reach for many women.
The consequences are stark: limited access to clinics, long and dangerous journeys for emergency care, and a health system stretched thin by displacement and insecurity. Muhammed’s experience is a sobering reminder of how conflict, logistics, and shifting aid can combine to endanger mothers and babies when timely care is not available.
Commentary and outlook:
– The incident highlights the vital importance of secure, reliable routes for emergency obstetric care in conflict zones.
– Restoring and safeguarding health services in northeastern Nigeria requires not only medical staffing but also stable access roads and protection for aid workers and facilities.
– International support and sustained funding are crucial to prevent preventable maternal deaths and to ensure that skilled care can reach pregnant women in crisis regions.
Summary:
Aisha Muhammed’s case puts a human face on the dangers facing pregnant women in conflict-affected parts of Nigeria. With a doctorless village clinic, a long dangerous journey to Maiduguri, and the broader backdrop of renewed insurgency and shifting foreign aid, her delivery of twins after a cesarean underscores both the fragility of maternal health in crises and the resilience of women who persevere to seek life-saving care.
Hopeful note:
Her story also offers a message of resilience and possibility: with improved security, restored health services, and steady international support, more women can access timely obstetric care, reducing preventable tragedies and giving families a chance at healthier futures.
Leave a comment