Bridging health gaps: Expert canvasses for growth of infant, maternal health in Nigeria

As Nigeria continues to grapple with alarming infant and maternal mortality rates, a distinguished consultant pediatrician, Dr. Richard Olumide Oyefeso, is championing a crusade to bridge the health gaps and ensure that no mother or child loses their life due to preventable causes.

According to Oyefeso, founder of 4Breath4Life (4B4L), a non-governmental organisation focused on saving lives by addressing preventable deaths and enhancing healthcare infrastructure, “My deepest passion is to bridge health gaps and ensure that no mother or child loses their life due to preventable causes.”

Since its inception, 4B4L has trained over 5,000 healthcare providers in life-saving maternal and neonatal care across Nigeria. More recent collaboration with the Pediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Nigerian Society for Neonatal Medicine (NISONM) has helped to create an exciting paradigm shift to scale the work.

Oyefeso emphasised that Nigeria’s high infant and maternal mortality rates are unacceptable and necessitate urgent attention from government and the organised private sector. “Every life matters, and everyone deserves a basic level of human dignity and respect. We must break down silos and collaborate intentionally to achieve sustainable impact.”
#teamworkmakesthedreamwork

As a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and advocate for health equity, Oyefeso’s impactful work spans Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. His commitment to social impact and equity has earned him recognition, including acceptance into Summit, a global gathering of change-makers.

It is imperative that we have a clear policy that a skilled attendant must be present at the birth of every baby everywhere. More than 700 babies die in Nigeria every day… a national travesty and emergency.

Oyefeso concluded, “This has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life. I really love our people, and they deserve the very best!”