Farida Mahmud was plagued by dizzy spells and headaches for months during her fifth pregnancy. After several trips from her native Kankiya in northwestern Katsina State to see a doctor in the state capital, she was finally diagnosed with high blood pressure. She was in her late thirties.
When it was time for labour, Ms Mahmud’s blood pressure spiked and the doctors decided to induce her delivery. She delivered a baby girl safely but Ms Mahmud continued to bleed for several weeks until her death in February 2022. Doctors said she suffered Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), one of the largest causes of maternal mortality in the world.
PPH and several diseases are taking a toll on the lives of Nigerians. It is among the reasons the country’s life expectancy is abysmal compared to its peers, according to Francis Faduyile, a pathologist at the Lagos State University College of Medicine.
