The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s rising maternal mortality rate, revealing that a woman dies every seven minutes during childbirth in the country.
The disclosure was made on Friday in Maiduguri by the Chief of UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, Francis Busiku Butichi, during the symbolic handover of WASHFIT supplies to health facilities in Borno State.
Butichi linked the alarming rate of maternal deaths to poor hygiene conditions, inadequate infection prevention systems, and unsafe healthcare environments in many hospitals and clinics nationwide.
He noted that health facilities, especially those located in fragile and conflict-affected communities, remain the frontline defence against disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
According to him, the WASHFIT initiative was introduced to strengthen infection prevention and control measures while improving access to clean and reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene services in healthcare centres.
“WASHFIT supports health facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control, improve access to safe and reliable water, promote hygiene practices and enhance healthcare waste management,” Butichi stated.
He explained that the initiative is specifically designed to close existing gaps in water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and infection prevention standards across health facilities.
The UNICEF official further stressed that better healthcare environments would contribute to safer childbirth experiences, improved service delivery, and healthier working conditions for medical personnel.
Butichi also reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the Borno State Government in strengthening the healthcare system and safeguarding the wellbeing of women and children across the state.
Elijah Adeyemi
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