Nigeria’s health leaders say the E-Motive approach can drastically cut postpartum deaths as they call for urgent nationwide adoption and stronger frontline care
Stakeholders have told our correspondent that the E-Motive approach must be urgently scaled across Nigeria as maternal health leaders push for stronger frontline readiness, community engagement and social behaviour change to combat the country’s persistently high rate of postpartum haemorrhage.
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Speaking on the sidelines of the 66th National Council on Health in Calabar, they described the WHO-approved technique as a powerful, evidence-based lifeline capable of saving thousands of women who face life-threatening bleeding after childbirth.
They explained that the E-Motive Approach, which uses a calibrated blood-collection drape for accurate measurement and a rapid bundle of clinically proven responses, is transforming outcomes in facilities where it has been introduced.
The model enables swift detection of bleeding and accelerates treatment, reducing the risk of avoidable deaths.
Nigeria recorded an estimated 3,689 maternal deaths between January and September 2025, according to the latest national health statistics.
Postpartum haemorrhage remains one of the country’s deadliest complications, mirroring global trends that see around 70,000 women die from it each year.
Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Country Lead for the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives Programme, said the E-Motive Approach is demonstrating remarkable promise in facilities using it.
He noted that calibrated drapes eliminate guesswork in estimating blood loss, allowing health workers to intervene earlier and more decisively.
He added that continuous simulation-based training of midwives and nurses is lifting confidence and strengthening emergency preparedness.
According to him, integrating the E-Motive Approach into national training platforms, including the Maternity Foundation Lab, ensures every health worker gains competence in detecting and managing bleeding.
He stressed that early recognition is the difference between life and death, saying every frontline professional must be equipped to act without hesitation.
Babafunke Fagbemi, Executive Director of the Centre for Communication and Social Impact, said boosting public trust in health facilities is essential to reducing maternal deaths.
She argued that while government investments in primary healthcare are improving perceptions, cultural and societal barriers still deter many women from seeking timely care.
She highlighted that Nigeria now produces the calibrated drapes locally, making the E-Motive Approach more accessible and sustainable for hospitals and maternal health centres across the country.
Dr Lordfred Achu, Technical Specialist for Reproductive and Maternal Health at UNFPA Nigeria, said postpartum haemorrhage remains the most frequent cause of maternal death, particularly among women who deliver at home or present late.
He emphasised the importance of focused antenatal care that thoroughly monitors haemoglobin levels, blood pressure, nutrition and overall wellbeing.
He said women with stronger blood reserves stand a better chance of surviving bleeding episodes, whereas those with underlying anaemia or poor nutrition deteriorate rapidly during emergencies.
Experts agreed that the E-Motive Approach must be a national priority if Nigeria is to reverse its alarming maternal mortality burden.
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They insisted that no woman should lose her life while giving birth, and that the tools to prevent these tragedies are available, affordable and effective.
