Hilima Azikwe

Nigerian midwife and health advocate who reduced maternal mortality through community health networks

Hilima Azikwe (1935-2005) revolutionized healthcare in Nigeria's rural regions through her pioneering work in midwifery and community health systems. A trained nurse from the University of Ibadan (1958), she identified the critical lack of prenatal care in remote areas. In 1963, she launched the Azikwe Maternal Care Initiative, establishing:

• Mobile health clinics using adapted donkey carts
• Traditional birth attendant training programs
• Community health ambassadors network

Her innovative approach decreased maternal mortality rates by 40% in target regions by 1975. Azikwe's 1972 book Healing the Village became a foundational text in public health, influencing WHO's Essential Health Care guidelines. The Hilima Azikwe Foundation continues her work today with over 300 community health centers across West Africa.