Pregnancy is a dangerous time in a woman’s life. This is especially true in Nigeria, where more women die from pregnancy-related causes than nearly anywhere else. In 2023, Nigeria accounted for more than a quarter of the world’s pregnancy-related deaths.

St. Dominic Catholic Hospital in Nigeria is dedicated to preventing maternal deaths through safe pregnancy care. CMMB has partnered with St. Dominic’s since 2018, equipping the hospital with vital medications and supplies. Our Access to Medicines Program delivered its most recent shipment earlier this year, providing St. Dominic’s with the essential supplies its health workers need to care for women through pregnancy and childbirth.

Together, CMMB and St. Dominic’s believe that all women deserve to experience the joy of pregnancy—with the support and care that turns hope into healthy outcomes. We are proud to share the impact of our most recent collaboration.

Staff from St. Dominic's unloads donated medical supplies from CMMB.

A Focus on Safe Motherhood

For every 100,000 women who give birth in Nigeria, nearly 1,000 die from pregnancy-related causes. In 2023, that meant 75,000 Nigerian women lost their lives trying to bring new life into the world. Many of these tragic deaths could be prevented with skilled prenatal care and in-facility deliveries. But not everyone can access or afford hospital care, and cultural norms introduce another barrier: many women in Nigeria view hospital-based deliveries as a luxury, rather than a necessity to protect their health and to give birth in a safer, more sterile environment.

St. Dominic’s, a mission hospital located in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southern Nigeria, champions in-hospital deliveries as a key to reducing maternal and newborn deaths. But safe deliveries require safe supplies, like exam gloves and hospital gowns. All too often, these critical medical supplies are hard to find locally, or too expensive to keep in stock at all times. Without personal protective equipment (PPE) and other basic supplies, health workers at St. Dominic’s worry about infection. And patients who may already feel uncertain lose confidence in skilled care.

But the staff of St. Dominic’s were steadfast in their conviction: by expanding access to safe in-facility births, they could save more lives. They advocated for the supplies they needed to care for their patients safely.

Staff at St. Dominic's receive a package of donated medicines from CMMB.

The Impact of Our Partnership

CMMB listened to St. Dominic’s needs and mobilized with other trusted partners to address their supply challenges. Henry Schein, Inc., a medical and dental supply company, donated PPE, including surgical masks and gowns, gloves, exam table covers, and biohazard waste bags. Kirk Humanitarian provided UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, and Previnex donated children’s vitamins. Airlink, another longtime CMMB partner and expert in aviation and logistics, handled transportation support, which can be an additional cost-prohibitive barrier for non-profit health facilities and hospitals.

Now, St. Dominic’s is better equipped to support safe deliveries. The hospital’s staff can maintain cleanliness and hygiene control in their maternity unit and surgical ward, confident that they are providing high-quality care while minimizing the risk of infection. Already, the supplies we delivered have been used by 30 staff members and are expected to support 2,000 deliveries and surgeries.

For one woman facing childbirth complications, CMMB’s delivery came just in time. She was laboring elsewhere when her progress stalled. With two lives at risk, she was rushed to St. Dominic’s. When she arrived, her condition was critical.

Fortunately, St. Dominic’s was ready. Using protective equipment and following strict hygiene protocols, the hospital’s clinical team responded quickly, averting what could have been another tragedy and preventing risky post-delivery infection. Instead, the woman safely delivered a healthy baby girl.

“The family was so happy,” St. Dominic’s shared. “Today, both mother and child are alive and well.”

Expanding Our Reach to Save More Lives

Health workers must be supported with the supplies they need to care for their patients. CMMB’s Access to Medicines Program expands our impact beyond the five countries where CMMB-affiliated local teams provide direct care. In 2025, we sent $243 million worth of medicine and medical supplies to 64 partners in 28 countries.

Strong partnerships with robust in-facility networks and incredibly generous donors supporting product and shipping make our work possible. Since 2018, we have delivered five shipments to St. Dominic’s, containing medicines and supplies worth nearly $1.5 million.

Thank you, St. Dominic’s. By increasing access to proper medical care, infection prevention and control materials, and essential medical supplies, we can help more women survive pregnancy and childbirth.

April footer 2026