From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a steady decline in Africa’s maternal mortality rate over the past two decades, crediting the joint efforts of stakeholders.
In a statement marking World Health Day on April 7, themed “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, the WHO Regional Office noted a 40% drop in maternal deaths—from 727 to 442 per 100,000 live births—between 2000 and 2023.
However, Africa still accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths.
Despite this progress, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 remains out of reach. At the current annual reduction rate of 2.2%, the region is projected to see nearly 350 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030—five times higher than the SDG goal. Each year, about 178,000 mothers and one million newborns die from preventable causes in Africa.
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, outlined ongoing efforts. “WHO is supporting countries across the region in implementing a wide range of interventions,” he said. These include maternal and newborn health acceleration plans, antenatal and postnatal care guidelines, increased access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care, specialised care for small and sick newborns, and addressing social and economic health inequities.
“In too many places, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening events. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every dollar invested in maternal and newborn health delivers major returns: healthier families, stronger societies, and sustainable economic growth,” he added.
Ihekweazu identified barriers like inadequate funding, weak governance, health workforce shortages, and disruptions from disease outbreaks and conflicts, which hit women and children hardest in fragile settings. Leading causes of maternal deaths in the region—haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, unsafe abortions, and obstructed labour—are mostly preventable with timely, quality care. For newborns, preterm births, childbirth complications, sepsis, neonatal infections, and congenital anomalies top the list.
He urged governments, donors, and communities to intensify efforts to end preventable deaths and prioritise the long-term health of women and children.