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Tag: Nigerian scientists

  • Nigerian scientists develop groundbreaking model for reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria

    Nigerian scientists develop groundbreaking model for reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria

    A team of Nigerian scientists and public health experts at the Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) Collective has developed a breakthrough model for reducing maternal deaths among 

    poor and vulnerable women. 

    The initiative, known as MamaBase, was piloted in Lagos in 2023 and has already produced dramatic results.

    According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 79,500 Nigerian women died from 

    childbirth-related causes in 2023, nearly 29% of maternal deaths globally. 

    In response, scientists working at MRH Collective created a data-driven framework that they named 

    M.I.L.E.S. (Mapping, Identifying, Linking, Educating, Supporting) to identify and support pregnant women in underserved communities. 

    Using this framework and proprietary tools, the MamaBase team connected women to essential antenatal and delivery care and provided ongoing 

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    guidance and monitoring throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

    “Our model is simple but powerful,” said Prof. Bosede Afolabi, Founder and Chairman of MRH Collective. “We start with data, and we stay with the woman through pregnancy, delivery, and 

    postpartum. And it works.”

    Since launching in October 2023, the programme has enrolled 7,883 women in Lagos.

    Of these, 99.9% survived childbirth, a striking contrast to the national maternal mortality rate of 1,047 

    deaths per 100,000 live births. More than 80% of MamaBase participants delivered in health facilities with skilled birth attendants, and 60% completed four or more antenatal visits (an 

    internationally recognised benchmark for quality maternal care). 

    The maternal mortality rate among MamaBase participants dropped to just 123 per 100,000 live births, nearly ten times lower than the national average.

    Encouraged by the results, MRH Collective is expanding the programme to 12 additional local government areas in Lagos and has launched a larger-scale version in Kaduna State, one of 

    Nigeria’s most affected regions, aiming to reach 10,000 more women by 2026.

    “We are proving that maternal deaths in Nigeria are not inevitable,” said Professor Ngozi Orazulike, MRH Board member and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University 

    of Port Harcourt. 

    “With data, community health systems, and targeted support, we can save 

    thousands of lives.”

    Dr Jumoke Oke, CEO of MRH Collective, added, “We now have the evidence. What we need is support to scale this lifesaving model nationwide.”

  • Tinubu celebrates six Nigerian scientists, engineers honoured by Biden

    Tinubu celebrates six Nigerian scientists, engineers honoured by Biden

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated six Nigerian-born scientists and engineers recognized by U.S. President Joe Biden as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). 

    The honour, announced on January 14, 2025, celebrates early-career professionals who have made exceptional contributions to their fields.

    Established in 1996 by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the PECASE is the highest honor awarded by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers at the beginning stages of their careers. 

    This year, the awardees are affiliated with or funded by 14 participating U.S. government agencies.

    Among the 400 recipients are six Nigerians whose groundbreaking works have drawn global recognition. 

    They include Azeez Butali, the Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, and Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) at Yale School of Public Health, Yale University.

    Also honoured are Oluwatomi Akindele, a Postdoctoral Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University. 

    Rounding out the group are Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, and Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the six honorees for their remarkable achievements in science, technology, and engineering. 

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    He emphasized that their recognition reflects the vast potential of Nigerians to excel on a global scale, serving as an inspiration to millions.

    “These trailblazers represent the extraordinary talent and dedication that Nigerians bring to every field of human endeavor. Their accomplishments inspire renewed confidence in our nation’s capacity to compete and lead in the global arena”, President Tinubu said. 

    The President expressed hope that the honorees’ multidisciplinary expertise would contribute to advancing Nigeria’s development goals under the Renewed Hope Agenda. 

    He also underscored the importance of fostering collaboration between Nigerian experts in the Diaspora and institutions back home.