The United Nations has warned that recent cuts in global health funding could reverse years of progress in reducing maternal deaths. This was revealed in a report released on Sunday, April 7, to mark World Health Day.
According to the report, maternal deaths dropped by 40% globally between 2000 and 2023 due to better access to health services. However, progress has slowed since 2016. In 2023 alone, about 260,000 women died from pregnancy related causes; that’s roughly one death every two minutes.
The report, titled ‘Trends in Maternal Mortality’, was jointly published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank. It highlighted that funding cuts are already forcing some countries to reduce services for pregnant women and newborns, putting millions at risk.
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that while improvements have been made, pregnancy remains dangerous in many parts of the world due to preventable complications. UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, stressed that cuts to essential services are endangering women in fragile settings and called for urgent investments in midwives, nurses and community health workers.
The report also showed how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted maternal health. In 2021, an estimated 40,000 more women died due to complications from the virus and disruptions to maternity care.
Sub-Saharan Africa was among the few regions with notable progress after 2015, but it still accounted for about 70% of global maternal deaths in 2023. Countries like Nigeria, Chad and Somalia remain among those with the highest risks for women.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem emphasized that access to quality maternal care is a right, not a privilege. She warned that nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by conflict or instability.
The report also called for long term solutions like keeping girls in school, improving access to family planning and addressing health conditions like malaria and anemia that increase risks during pregnancy.
With the world off-track to meet the UN’s 2030 goal for maternal survival, the agencies are urging urgent action to prevent more avoidable deaths. This year’s World Health Day theme is “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” focusing on improving maternal and newborn care.