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Midwives critical to reducing maternal, newborn deaths in Africa – WHO
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By Francesca Hangeior
The Acting World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has commended the lifesaving work of midwives across Africa, describing them as the frontline guardians of maternal and newborn health.
In a message to commemorate the International Day of Midwife on Monday, Ihekweazu stated that midwives were critical actors in every health crisis and decried the 6.1million health worker shortfall.
The 2025 theme is “Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis.”
He decried the maternal and newborn death rates in the region, further emphasising that the efforts of midwives have been important in reducing maternal mortality.
The WHO noted that over one million newborns and 178,000 mothers die every year in the region.
While South Sudan accounts for the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, Nigeria ranks third with 512 deaths and 100,000 live births.
In a message on the WHO website, Ihekweazu said, “Aligned with the momentum of World Health Day 2025 and its theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, this year’s celebration calls for greater recognition and investment in midwives, the people who make healthy beginnings possible.
“In the African Region, where over one million newborns and 178,000 mothers die each year, midwives are a lifeline. They deliver skilled, compassionate care across the entire continuum of reproductive and maternal health, often in the most difficult and resource-limited settings. Their efforts have been pivotal in reducing maternal mortality, with the regional average dropping from 727 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000, to 442 in 2023.”
He noted that the 2025 theme reflects a challenging reality, stating that midwives serve in fragile health systems, conflict zones, and through natural disasters and pandemics.
“In many cases, they are the only providers of sexual and reproductive health services in their communities,” he added.
The Acting Regional Director further noted that despite a projected shortage of 6.1 million health workers in the African Region by 2030, important progress has been made.
He stated that between 2013 and 2022, the number of midwives nearly doubled, from 173,269 to over 334,000, noting that this growth reflects what is possible with political will, coordinated investment, and focused strategies.
Despite the growth in the region, Nigeria is currently facing a mass exodus of medical practitioners.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that over 7,500 nurses and midwives left the country in five years.
In 2023, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives stated that to close the gap caused by the mass emigration, the country needed about 70,000 midwives.
Continuing, Ihekweazu stated that WHO continues to work closely with Member States to expand competency-based midwifery education, improve workforce density, and embed midwives in national health and emergency preparedness strategies.
“In 2024, Member States endorsed the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, a shared commitment to long-term investment in health workers. Zimbabwe’s new Investment Compact, for example, will mobilise an additional $166 million annually for three years to strengthen its health workforce, with midwives at the centre.
“Still, too many midwives work without proper tools, pay, protections or opportunities for advancement. Their voices are often excluded from the policy decisions that affect their work, and the lives of the people they serve,” he added.
He urged governments to ensure midwives were integrated into emergency preparedness plans, protected in crisis response and supported with mental health resources and fair working conditions.
“Education must evolve to equip them with skills in trauma-informed care, conflict sensitivity and leadership.
“When midwives are trained, respected and empowered, health systems grow stronger, and every mother and child has a better chance at life.
“WHO stands with midwives, today and every day. Let us move beyond symbolic recognition.
“Let’s act, because midwives are not only critical in every crisis. They are essential to every solution,” the acting regional director said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
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