Health Worker Strikes Leave Pregnant Women at Risk as Hospitals Shut Doors

By Otobong Gabriel,  Abuja 

When health workers down tools, it is often pregnant women and their unborn babies who pay the highest price.

Across many public hospitals, the ongoing strike by doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel has disrupted antenatal services, deliveries and emergency obstetric care, leaving thousands of expectant mothers stranded and vulnerable.

For many women who depend on government hospitals because of their affordability, the closures mean missed checkups, delayed treatments and dangerous alternatives.

Antenatal clinics, which are critical for monitoring blood pressure, infections and the baby’s growth, have either been suspended or operating skeletal services. Without routine monitoring, complications such as pre-eclampsia, anaemia and gestational diabetes may go undetected until they become life-threatening.

Some pregnant women say they have been turned back at hospital gates.

“I came for my appointment but they told us there are no nurses on duty,” said a 28-year-old expectant mother at a public facility. “Private hospitals are too expensive for me. I don’t know where else to go.”

With limited options, many families resort to traditional birth attendants or home deliveries, which significantly increase the risk of infections, excessive bleeding and birth complications.

Health experts warn that this trend could reverse gains made in reducing maternal mortality.

Nigeria already records one of the highest maternal death rates globally, and disruptions to essential services could worsen the situation. According to public health specialists, emergencies such as obstructed labour, heavy bleeding and premature births require immediate skilled care that only functional hospitals can provide.

“When skilled personnel are not available, both mother and baby are at serious risk,” a maternal health advocate explained. “Even a few hours’ delay can be fatal.”

Beyond health risks, the financial burden is also heavy. Private hospitals often charge two to three times more than public facilities, forcing some families into debt just to secure safe delivery.

The emotional toll is equally severe, as many pregnant women face anxiety and uncertainty about where they will give birth.

Stakeholders are calling on the government and health unions to urgently resolve disputes to prevent avoidable deaths.

For many expectant mothers, the hope is simple — that hospitals reopen before their delivery dates.

Until then, each day of the strike remains a gamble with two lives at stake.