As Nigeria joins the global community to mark the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights (IDMHR), Emzor Group called for increased investment and stronger protection of maternal health rights, even as it expanded access to preventive and life-saving interventions for mothers across the country.
Observed annually on April 11, IDMHR draws attention to the need for equitable, respectful, and high-quality maternal care. The 2026 theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” underscores the urgency of eliminating preventable maternal deaths, strengthening midwifery systems, and safeguarding women’s health rights, particularly in low-resource settings, reports Saturday Guardian.
Nigeria continues to bear a disproportionate burden of global maternal mortality. According to the World Health Organisation’s Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2020 report published in 2023, the country records an estimated 993 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, accounting for about 28 to 29 per cent of global maternal deaths.
This translates to roughly 82,000 maternal deaths annually, or more than 200 deaths daily, largely from preventable causes.
Against this backdrop, stakeholders continue to emphasise the need for sustained investments, stronger health systems, and improved access to essential maternal health services and commodities.
Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of Emzor Group, Pharm. Uzoma Ezeoke, said maternal health must be prioritised as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.
She noted that ensuring safe pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care for all women requires deliberate investment, resilient health systems, and sustained collaboration between public and private sector actors. She added that the company remains committed to contributing to improved maternal health outcomes.
Ezeoke maintained that improving maternal health outcomes requires a holistic approach that integrates prevention, nutrition, and access to life-saving medicines. She said the company remains committed to building a future where no woman dies while giving life and where both mothers and their children can achieve optimal health and wellbeing.
Highlighting the company’s role, the Head of Marketing at Emzor, Mr. Kunle Faloye, stated that the organisation is supporting healthcare systems with high-quality, affordable pharmaceutical products that address critical maternal health needs.
He explained that these interventions span nutrition, prenatal care, and postpartum support, adding that investments in local manufacturing are designed to improve access, ensure supply reliability, and deliver better outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Through its subsidiary, Zolon Healthcare Limited, Emzor has continued to expand its footprint in maternal health solutions.
One of its key offerings, Eprostol, a misoprostol formulation, supports a range of obstetric indications, including the management of postpartum haemorrhage and cervical ripening, in line with clinical guidelines.
The company noted that the product is the first locally manufactured misoprostol suite in Nigeria, providing healthcare professionals with reliable options for maternal care.
Further affirming this effort, the Head of Marketing at Zolon Healthcare, Pharm. Obiajulu Onwuzor, said the subsidiary is focused on delivering quality-assured, locally manufactured solutions aligned with clinical best practices. She added that strengthening local production capacity is helping to close critical gaps in access to essential maternal health medicines.
Emzor’s interventions also extend to the preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy and according to the company, its product, Maldox, helps to reduce the risk of maternal anaemia and low birth weight in newborns and aligns with the World Health Organisation’s recommended strategy for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy.
Beyond these, the company said its broader maternal and child health portfolio includes iron supplements, multivitamins, and essential micronutrients that support healthy pregnancy and fetal development, alongside nutritional products such as folic acid and Em-B-Plex, which contribute to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
