The Academy of Medical Sciences has called on the Federal Government to adopt the Abiye model, an Ondo State maternal healthcare initiative credited with drastically reducing maternal deaths, as part of efforts to tackle the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

The recommendation was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Academy’s maiden biennial presidential colloquium titled “Nigeria’s Health at a Crossroad: Confronting Workforce Shortages, Epidemic Risks, and Maternal Mortality,” held at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

In the communiqué, signed by its President, Prof. Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie, and Secretary, Prof. Mayowa Owolabi, the Academy noted that Nigeria accounts for about 28 per cent of global maternal deaths.

It, however, attributed this to preventable obstetric complications, such as postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and obstructed labour.

The experts observed that maternal deaths are more prevalent in northern Nigeria, worsened by low uptake of family planning services and limited decision-making power among women.

They also cited systemic challenges, including poor access to antenatal care, weak referral systems, a shortage of skilled birth attendants, and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

The Academy, therefore, recommended nationwide adoption of the Abiye model, which reportedly reduced maternal mortality by up to 85 per cent.

It also called for deploying more trained midwives to underserved communities and expanding emergency obstetric and newborn care services.

The communiqué further emphasised the need to equip primary healthcare centres with essential life-saving tools, such as uterine balloon tamponades, misoprostol, and magnesium sulphate, and to strengthen blood supply systems to manage severe bleeding.

The Academy, while acknowledging the importance of blood donation in addressing shortages, faulted a court ruling that prohibits public hospitals from requiring husbands or relatives to make blood donations as a condition for accessing maternity care.

It, however, proposed expansion of medical training through the community-oriented-based medical education system, improved welfare packages to retain health workers, as well as establishing a dedicated health workforce fund.

It also stressed that achieving Universal Health Coverage requires strong executive leadership, improved fiscal commitment, and coordinated governance.

The Academy, which urged the Federal Government to progressively increase health sector funding to meet the 15 per cent target set by the 2001 Abuja Declaration, called for competitive remuneration for health workers, including full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for academic clinical staff, as well as subsidised housing/mortgage schemes, improved workplace safety standards, and flexible post-retirement contracts for expert clinicians.

It therefore advocated establishing a presidential oversight and monitoring committee to track progress in key areas, including workforce expansion, maternal mortality reduction, and biosecurity preparedness.