Childbirth in Churches in Nigeria: Faith should save lives, not end them

Every expectant mother deserves the opportunity to give birth safely. Tragically, in Nigeria, some women and their babies are still dying from preventable complications because deliveries take place in unlicensed churches and prayer centres instead of properly equipped health facilities.

This is not a criticism of Christianity or religion. It is a call to protect life.
Many Nigerians are deeply religious, and prayer is an important source of strength during pregnancy and childbirth. But prayer should never replace skilled medical care. Faith and medicine are not competitors—they are partners. Even the Bible teaches that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).

Seeking professional healthcare during childbirth is an act of wisdom, not a lack of faith.

Nigeria continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality burdens in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country accounts for a disproportionately large share of global maternal deaths.

Thousands of women lose their lives each year from complications such as severe bleeding, obstructed labour, infections, eclampsia, and other emergencies that trained health professionals can often prevent or treat when women receive timely care.

Sadly, many of these deaths occur because women are kept in prayer houses or unlicensed maternity centres until complications become critical. By the time they are rushed to a hospital, it is often too late. Doctors across Nigeria continue to recount heartbreaking stories of women arriving in irreversible shock or with babies who could no longer be saved after prolonged labour in facilities that lacked qualified personnel and emergency equipment.

This problem is not confined to one state. It has been reported over the years in Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Kano, Anambra, Enugu, and many other parts of the country. Behind every statistic is a grieving family, orphaned children, and a community left asking whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

Several years ago, Dr Linda Ayade—a medical doctor and former First Lady of Cross River State—warned about the dangers of childbirth in churches after witnessing too many women arrive at hospitals when nothing more could be done. Her message remains just as relevant today.

Nigeria urgently needs stronger enforcement of existing healthcare laws and, where necessary, new legislation to close dangerous gaps.

Any religious organisation that wishes to operate a maternity facility should be required to:
Employ licensed doctors, certified midwives, and qualified nurses.
Register and comply with the standards of the appropriate health regulatory authorities.

Maintain essential medical equipment and emergency obstetric services.

Have clear referral systems for complications requiring specialist care.
Any facility—religious or otherwise—that conducts deliveries without meeting these standards should face appropriate legal sanctions. Freedom of religion should never extend to practices that endanger lives.

Religious leaders also have an important responsibility. Churches should encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics, receive regular medical check-ups, and deliver in accredited hospitals while continuing to provide spiritual support through prayer and counselling. Protecting life is one of the highest expressions of faith.

Every preventable maternal death is one too many.

No woman should lose her life while giving life because she trusted an unlicensed facility instead of receiving skilled medical care. No baby should die because emergency treatment was unavailable.

Our lawmakers, health authorities, religious leaders, and communities must work together to ensure that childbirth is safe for every Nigerian woman. Faith should inspire us to preserve life—not unintentionally put it at risk.
The time to act is now.

Tomilayo Imade is a Nigerian writer and project management professional based in England. Passionate about social justice and human-interest stories, she writes thought-provoking articles on culture, mental health, gender, and public affairs. Through her writing, she seeks to challenge harmful social norms, amplify everyday experiences, and inspire meaningful conversations that drive positive change.