It saddens my heart to write this today. 💔 Truly, it breaks me to see how insignificant human life has gradually become in our country, Nigeria. Over the last two years, I lost two friends between the ages of 18 and 25—young, vibrant ladies whose futures were brutally cut short by an ineffective and incompetent healthcare system.
According to the BBC, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, accounting for nearly 29% globally. This means that every seven minutes, one woman is dying or struggling to survive childbirth somewhere in our country. ⏱️🤰
What makes this even more painful is that most of these deaths are preventable—severe bleeding, high blood pressure, lack of skilled medical personnel. Poor infrastructure, insecurity, and limited access to healthcare only worsen this already tragic situation.
The first step in solving any problem is understanding its cause. We already know the causes of this crisis, yet we continue to pay little or no attention to this mayhem that has eaten deep into our society. As our people say, “when the corpse belongs to a different person, it appears like a log of wood.”
On the 28th of December, I also lost a classmate in a federal hospital that lacked something as basic as a pulse oximeter. 🏥 My people, it is only a foolish man that feeds a crocodile meat with the hope that it will eat him last.
Nobody is coming to build our community, village, state, or nation for us—except us. The earlier we wake up to this cankerworm eating us alive and begin to demand accountability from those representing us in government, the better it will be for all of us. The painful truth is this: whether you speak up or remain silent, when it gets to you, no one is coming to save you.
Ask yourself honestly 🤔: if you fall ill today, which clinic or hospital in your village, state, or even this nation can you confidently walk into and receive quality medical care? Instead of fixing the problem, they produce alcohol and hard drugs to numb our pain and distract us from our reality. 🍾🚫
It is shameful what we have become as a people—but we can still change it. Change starts now. Get involved in the affairs of your state in whatever capacity you can. Be part of the change you desire. You are not here forever, and your children and family are not safe either. Do something today. Save the soul of this country—start from your village. 🌍✊
Finally, to religious preachers and teachers: it is time to tell our people the truth. God will not do for us what He has already given us the power to do. “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Faith must go hand in hand with responsibility. 🙏
I will conclude with the words of Thomas Aquinas:
“If you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.”
Let us save our sisters, wives, mothers, and unborn children. ❤️
ndu ka aku maka na onye di ndu ga enwe aku.
May the souls of those who have fallen to this tragic misfortune stir those of us still alive into action—so that no more lives are lost, and the tears of grieving families may find meaning in change. Amen. 🕊️
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi
Pen it down. 