In Maiduguri, Nigeria, the Kushari center provides critical maternal and newborn care, addressing the high rates of maternal mortality. This facility, launched by MSF in 2022, offers free, emergency obstetric services, serving as a lifeline for women facing complications. Integrated into the public health system, the center aims for long-term sustainability and improved health outcomes in the region.
In Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state, an emergency obstetric and newborn care center has emerged as a critical lifeline for pregnant women and newborns facing severe health risks. Nigeria possesses the world’s third-highest maternal mortality rate, with the World Health Organization reporting 1,047 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. To combat this alarming issue, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) implemented a program in Maiduguri in 2022, which included enhancing existing maternity facilities and establishing a specialized obstetric care center.
The Kushari Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEMONC) facility, with a capacity for thirty beds expandable to ninety, opened in June 2024. This center offers free, life-saving interventions for complications such as pre-eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and obstructed deliveries. MSF midwife Janada James highlighted that issues like anemia and malaria are prevalent, complicating care for mothers and fetuses.
“After delivering her baby, we couldn’t stop the bleeding,” explained Rhoda Awanyah, an MSF midwife supervisor, referring to the case of a woman who suffered from severe postpartum hemorrhage. When the patient returned for a follow-up, she expressed gratitude by stating, “If not for this facility, I would have been dead and gone.” This highlights the center’s indispensable role in saving lives.
The Kushari center, the only free specialized referral facility in Borno, was established in cooperation with the Borno Ministry of Health and MSF. Its operation marks a significant step towards reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Maiduguri. In the first six months, admissions surged, particularly following catastrophic flooding in September and October 2024, amplifying the need for accessible healthcare.
James also noted the significance of providing complimentary services considering the financial challenges faced by residents of Borno. “We took care of a baby born weighing just over 2 pounds, whose survival would have been improbable without specialized care,” demonstrating the center’s crucial function in dealing with high-risk cases. Many referrals come from eleven primary maternal healthcare facilities supported by MSF; however, many women still deliver at home, leading to tragic outcomes.
Fatmata Ali, a patient, shared her ordeal: “I was in labor for four days… Honestly, I don’t know if I would have survived without this hospital.” The Kushari center, which performs essential interventions like cesarean sections, exemplifies a vital healthcare resource amid overwhelming challenges.
To ensure sustainability, the Kushari center has been integrated into the public health system, with most staff sourced from the Ministry of Health, supplemented by MSF’s financial support and training. This collaboration aims for the Borno state Ministry of Health to assume full management of the facility within five years. Achieving a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality will necessitate further investments in prenatal care alongside tackling high malnutrition rates among mothers and pregnant women.
The Kushari Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care center in Maiduguri exemplifies a transformative effort to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in a region grappling with severe health challenges. By providing free, specialized care and integrating into the public health system, it not only addresses immediate health crises but lays the groundwork for sustainable healthcare solutions. Continuous support and investment in maternal health are essential to enhance care access and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations in Borno.
Original Source: www.doctorswithoutborders.org
