Health
Include TXA in delivery kits to reduce maternal deaths, WARDC urges govts
By Francesca Hangeior
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre has called on governments and key stakeholders to urgently integrate tranexamic acid into standard delivery kits across Nigeria to reduce maternal deaths caused by post-partum haemorrhage.
According to the World Health Organisation, PPH, also known as severe bleeding after childbirth, is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide.
It noted that every year, about 14 million women experience PPH, resulting in about 70,000 deaths globally.
To reduce the incidence of PPH, the WHO in 2017 recommended the early use of intravenous TXA within three hours of birth, alongside standard care, for women diagnosed with PPH after vaginal or caesarean delivery.
WARDC says PPH remains one of the leading causes of maternal death in Nigeria, contributing significantly (almost 25 per cent) to the country’s unacceptably high maternal mortality ratio.
Speaking at a press briefing marking the closing ceremony of the rights group’s 12-month-long community-focused intervention, the Founding Director of WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said awareness was insufficient without interventions to ensure lifesaving medicines are readily available where women give birth.
She stressed that tranexamic acid, commonly known as TXA, has been proven to reduce bleeding after childbirth significantly, but remains largely inaccessible to many women due to cost and policy gaps.
“While awareness is critical, awareness alone cannot save lives. For tranexamic acid to truly reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria, system-level action is urgently required,” she said.
In outlining specific demands, Akiyode-Afolabi urged the governments to prioritise public funding and access to the drug across the three healthcare levels.
She said, “Federal and state governments to subsidise and include tranexamic acid in all standard delivery kits in public health facilities, and ensure TXA is consistently available at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care.”
She also called for stronger policy integration and capacity building within the health system to support effective use of the drug.
“Health authorities and regulators to integrate TXA fully into maternal health protocols, emergency obstetric guidelines, and training curricula for healthcare workers. There’s an urgent need to strengthen supply chains so that cost, stock-outs, and access barriers do not continue to cost women their lives,” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
According to her, development partners and donor agencies also have a critical role to play in scaling interventions that have shown measurable impact at the community level.
She said, “Development partners and donors to support scale-up of successful community engagement models like Project TRANSFORM, and invest in sustained advocacy, training, and monitoring to ensure long-term impact.”
She noted that progress in reducing maternal deaths depends on collective responsibility and evidence-driven action.
“When communities are informed, stakeholders collaborate, and evidence guides advocacy, change is possible,” she said.
However, she cautioned that such progress would remain limited without strong political backing and sustained investment.
The WARDC founding director noted, “However, for that change to translate into lives saved, it must be matched with political will, adequate financing, and institutional commitment.”
Akiyode-Afolabi described maternal deaths from post-partum bleeding as unacceptable, given the availability of effective and affordable medical solutions.
“No woman should die while giving birth. No family should lose a mother, daughter, spouse, or sister to a preventable cause.”
She added that denying women access to proven medicines undermines efforts to improve maternal health outcomes nationwide.
“And no proven, affordable medicine like TXA should remain out of reach,” she said.
Akiyode-Afolabi explained that WARDC, with technical and research support from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, had, in the last 10 months, embarked on a community-focused intervention aimed at reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria through improved awareness, access, and advocacy for tranexamic acid.
“Over 20,000 people were reached through physical, community-based engagements, including town hall meetings, grassroots dialogues, engagements at primary healthcare centres, faith-based spaces, and market outreaches,” she said.
Through these efforts, she said Project TRANSFORM contributed to increased awareness, improved community knowledge, and stronger public discourse around preventable maternal deaths and evidence-based solutions.
Health experts have warned that breast cancer cases among women worldwide could increase significantly in the coming decades if stronger prevention and early detection measures are not implemented.
According to recent global health research, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year is expected to rise by about one-third by the year 2050. The projections indicate that annual cases could increase from roughly 2.3 million cases recorded in 2023 to about 3.5 million cases by mid-century.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally, and the rising numbers highlight the growing burden the disease may place on healthcare systems around the world.
In addition to the projected rise in new cases, the number of breast cancer-related deaths is also expected to increase significantly. Experts estimate that annual deaths could grow from around 764,000 currently to nearly 1.4 million by 2050, representing an increase of about 44 percent.
Impact Expected to Be Greater in Developing Countries
Although breast cancer affects women in all parts of the world, researchers say the projected increase will likely have a more severe impact on low- and middle-income countries.
Many of these countries face major challenges in providing adequate cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment services. Limited access to modern healthcare facilities often leads to late detection of the disease, which reduces the chances of successful treatment.
In contrast, wealthier nations generally have better screening programmes, improved medical technology, and greater access to specialised treatment. This allows many cases to be detected earlier, increasing survival rates.
Health experts warn that without major improvements in healthcare systems in developing regions, the gap in survival rates between high-income and low-income countries could continue to widen.
Lifestyle Factors Linked to Breast Cancer
The study also highlights the role of lifestyle choices and health conditions that can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
Researchers estimate that about 28 percent of breast cancer cases globally are linked to several modifiable risk factors. These include unhealthy lifestyle habits and certain medical conditions that may be preventable.
Some of the key risk factors identified include excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, high blood sugar levels, low physical activity, and high intake of red meat.
Health professionals say that addressing these factors through public education, improved nutrition, and healthier lifestyle choices could help reduce the number of future breast cancer cases.
Rising Cases Among Younger Women
Another concern raised by researchers is the increasing number of breast cancer diagnoses among younger women, particularly those between the ages of 20 and 54.
Although breast cancer is still more common among women aged 55 and above, experts say cases among younger women have been gradually rising over the years. Changes in lifestyle, environmental factors, and reproductive patterns are believed to contribute to this trend.
Call for Stronger Global Action
Medical experts are calling for greater global efforts to combat breast cancer, including expanded screening programmes, improved access to treatment, and stronger public health campaigns focused on prevention.
They stress that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to reduce deaths from breast cancer. When the disease is identified early, treatment options are often more successful and survival rates are significantly higher.
Researchers also emphasize the need for governments and health institutions to invest more in cancer care infrastructure, especially in countries where access to healthcare services remains limited.
With the number of cases expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, experts say coordinated global action will be essential to reduce the future impact of breast cancer and protect the health of millions of women worldwide.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has announced that Nigeria will take delivery of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug that has shown 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection in clinical trials.
A short statement released by the Head of Public Relations, NACA, Toyin Aderibigbe, on Monday said the agency has secured regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Lenacapavir is an injectable treatment administered twice a year, making it a more convenient alternative to daily oral prevention drugs.
The drug is expected to be available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an affordable price of $40 per person annually, thanks to voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers.
“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
“This is part of the government’s commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control,” the statement read.
NACA listed some significant milestones achieved, including completion of landscape and readiness assessments across ten states: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos, alongside regulatory approval by NAFDAC.
“The commodities are expected in the country in March 2026,” NACA noted.
Nigeria has approximately 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence of 1.3% among adults aged 15-49 years.
The country recorded 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2021.
The South-South zone has the highest HIV prevalence at 3.1%, while women aged 15-49 years are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV as men.
Over N3 billion worth of illegal cosmetics has been discovered in a warehouse at the APT Trade Fair Complex in Lagos State.
According to the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, the warehouse, concealed in an uncompleted building, was discovered during an enforcement operation.
Items recovered from the facility include 728 cartons of Crusader soap, 718 cartons of E45 soap, and Extract Gold whitening soap, all of which are products banned by the Federal Government.
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NAFDAC also said that other items found in the warehouse are assorted perfumes, body oils and cooking oils which have been placed on hold for further regulatory assessment.
“All seized products have been evacuated to prevent distribution,” the agency stated.
NAFDAC disclosed that the manager of the warehouse has been invited for further investigation as enforcement actions continue.
The agency warned that the sale and usage of banned, fake and illegal cosmetics products pose serious health risks to consumers.
NAFDAC further advised members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the agency’s nearest office, stressing the importance of public corporation in curbing the circulation of unsafe products.
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