By Kolawole Omoniyi
In the rural corners of Kano, maternal mortality continues to soar, driven by inadequate healthcare services, reliance on traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and corruption in healthcare fund management. Unguwarbai, a community in Ajingi Local Government Area (LGA), recently witnessed the tragic death of Kamilu Samaina, a 20-year-old mother, whose labor ordeal highlights the systemic challenges.
According to Nigeria Info, Samaina succumbed to postpartum hemorrhage after a 15-hour home labor under the care of a TBA. Her family struggled for hours to transport her to a healthcare facility. By the time she reached Gaya General Hospital, it was too late. “The baby survived, but Samaina began to bleed heavily,” her brother, Idris Musa, recounted with a heavy heart. “We spent two hours trying to find a car and another two hours waiting at Ajingi Cottage Hospital before she was referred to Gaya. She died in my arms before we could get her there.”
This tragic story is not an isolated case. Yakubu Makama, chairman of the Gurduba Ward Development Committee, revealed that such deaths are common. “We’ve lost many lives. At least one pregnant woman dies every month, and sometimes two or three in a month,” he said.
Despite the presence of healthcare facilities in the region, like the 12-year-old Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Gurduba, staffing issues render these centers ineffective. “We have all the necessary equipment, but no staff to take deliveries,” Makama added. He lamented the dismissal of a midwife hired by the community three years ago, whose removal left the PHC without skilled attendants.
Community Health Extension Worker Suleiman Sabin, the Officer-in-Charge of Gurduba PHC, shared another challenge: cultural barriers. “I’ve taken countless deliveries in the past, but as a man, the women here refuse my help due to religious and cultural beliefs,” he explained.
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) like Rahama Mohammed and Amina Zubairu continue to fill the void. Rahama, who has been a TBA for over 20 years, said, “We are about 200 TBAs in Ajingi LGA. Many pregnant women prefer our help because they can’t afford the hospital fees. We only ask for what they can give, like N200 or some grains.”
Despite their efforts, complications often arise. “Some women die due to complications,” Rahama admitted. “But without us, there would be even more deaths.”
The federal government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was introduced to combat maternal mortality and improve healthcare services. However, corruption and mismanagement plague the program.
Hassan Musa, chairman of Fagwalawa Ward Development Committee in Dambatta LGA, accused a former Officer-in-Charge of misappropriating over N1 million meant for healthcare services. “He bought fake drugs and refused to cooperate with other committee members,” Musa said, pointing to the broader issues affecting rural healthcare.
For many women, the lack of female healthcare workers at local PHCs leaves them no choice but to turn to TBAs. Farida Salisu, a mother of six, shared her experience: “I delivered two of my children at home because I couldn’t afford the hospital fees, and there was no female staff at Gurduba PHC. I had to travel 40 kilometers to Gaya General Hospital for my other deliveries.”
Dr. Fatima Adamu, Executive Director of Nana Women and Girls Empowerment Initiative, emphasized the need for community-driven solutions. “We need to train married women from these communities as midwives. In Zamfara, we successfully implemented this program, and the women returned to serve locally,” she said.
As maternal mortality remains a pressing issue in rural Kano, the gap between healthcare policy and practice continues to put the lives of mothers and infants at risk. Without urgent action, the community’s reliance on TBAs and the pervasive corruption in healthcare funding will only exacerbate the crisis.
