LASUTH Chief Medical Director Calls for Reform of Abortion Laws to Save Maternal Lives in Nigeria
Professor Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), has called for urgent legal and systemic reforms to address Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rates.
UBA CHIDINMA 
Professor Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), has called for urgent legal and systemic reforms to address Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rates. Speaking at the 6th Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gynaecology on November 14, 2024, Fabamwo emphasized the critical need to liberalize the country’s restrictive abortion laws, which he argued contribute significantly to preventable maternal deaths.
The lecture, titled “The Tortuous Road to Maternal Mortality Reduction in Nigeria: Avoidable Stranglehold on Liberal Abortion Laws,” was held at the historic Old Great Hall of the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, and was chaired by Emeritus Professor Osato Ona Frank Giwa-Osagie. It attracted distinguished figures, including Nigeria’s first female professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor Kofoworola Surubomi Ogedengbe, and Professor Oluwarotimi Ireti Akinola, President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON).
Highlighting the grave situation in Nigeria, where the maternal mortality rate stands at 1,500 deaths per 100,000 live births, Fabamwo pointed out that restrictive abortion laws—permitting abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when a mother’s life is at risk—are outdated and out of touch with global standards. He called for the decriminalization of abortion and expanded access to safe reproductive health services, which would directly contribute to reducing maternal mortality rates.
The lecture also underscored the importance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, quality maternal healthcare, and access to family planning services to improve women’s health outcomes in Nigeria.
The event paid tribute to the legacy of Chief (Mrs.) Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele and her commitment to improving maternal health. Several awards were presented to researchers Dr. Ayokunle Olumodeji and Dr. Tersur T. Salau for their groundbreaking work in cervical cancer screening and managing endometriosis-related pain, respectively.
The discussions concluded with a strong call for collaborative action among government, healthcare professionals, and international partners to tackle Nigeria’s maternal health crisis and ensure every woman has access to safe, quality care. https://unilag.edu.ng/?p=44569
