The Lagos State government has called for intensified grassroots awareness, counselling, and access to quality healthcare to curb rising maternal deaths.

The commissioner for youth and social development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the call on Monday at a memorial and advocacy meeting in Lagos.

The meeting focused on preventing maternal deaths linked to unsafe maternal health practices, particularly unsafe termination of pregnancy.

Mr Ogunlende, represented by Suliat Olaniyan, a Lagos youth ambassador, said maternal mortality remained a major concern for families and society.

“Every girl, every woman deserves access to safe, quality and respectful healthcare, especially during pregnancy and childbirth,” he said.

He said maternal deaths extended beyond healthcare concerns, with significant social and economic consequences for families and communities.

“When we lose women, we lose the future of our society. These are mothers, leaders and role models,” Mr Ogunlende said.

The commissioner warned against unsafe practices, including patronising unqualified providers and using harmful substances to terminate pregnancies.

“Some people still go to quacks who mix substances for them, leading to tragic and avoidable outcomes,” he said.

Mr Ogunlende urged families to prioritise open communication and counselling, noting that stigma and fear often prevented young girls from seeking help early.

“We have counsellors, but many people do not make use of them,” he said.

He stressed that counselling enabled individuals to speak openly and seek assistance before their situations developed into serious complications.

The commissioner urged parents to monitor their children’s associations and encourage dialogue, saying peer influence could contribute to risky decisions.

“If you notice anything unusual, talk to your child. Guidance and support can prevent many of these situations,” he added.

Mr Ogunlende also appealed to communities to reduce religious and cultural stigma and prioritise saving lives.

“This is not about religion; it is about life. If a child makes a mistake and is alive, there is room for correction.

“But if the child dies, there is nothing to hold on to,” the commissioner said.

He urged stakeholders to intensify grassroots awareness campaigns, noting that many people still underestimated the seriousness of maternal mortality.

“Maternal death is real. We must continue to educate our communities and ensure that people seek proper medical care,” he said.

Olalekan Dauda, chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, also called for stronger community collaboration, awareness, and improved access to reproductive healthcare.

Mr Dauda said stigma, poor awareness, and limited access to reproductive health services contributed to unwanted pregnancies and preventable maternal deaths.

He noted that facilities and personnel were available, but many residents remained unaware of services within their communities.

“As we speak, I have six staff members in the Ikeja Local Government Service, including nurses, matrons and counsellors, but people are not aware,” he said.

Mr Dauda acknowledged government efforts but said more needed to be done to bridge the awareness gap.

“Our best is not enough. We must continue to engage our people,” he said.

He appealed to religious leaders to support awareness campaigns, citing their strong influence among young people.

“These youths listen more to their imams and pastors. We need to build a community around this issue,” Mr Dauda said.

The chairman shared how fear and stigma nearly led to tragedy within his family after his daughter became pregnant.

“I almost lost my daughter in a similar situation. She became pregnant and could not speak up due to stigma,” he said.

Mr Dauda warned that many young girls were resorting to unsafe methods, including unregulated pills and concoctions, putting their lives at risk.

“A lot of these girls are taking harmful substances daily. We need urgent action to save the girl child,” he said.

The event was organised by the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC) in collaboration with SOGON and the NMA Lagos Chapter.

It was convened to honour women and girls who lost their lives preventably through unsafe termination of pregnancy.

The meeting featured testimonies from survivors, victims’ families, and advocates representing women affected by stigma, inadequate healthcare access, and weak support systems. 

(NAN)