Posted on: Tue 08-04-2025

Maternal and newborn deaths are declining in Africa. And yes, that’s worth acknowledging. But let’s be honest—the pace is painfully slow, and if we’re not careful, we’ll miss our 2030 targets by a devastating margin.

Here’s the hard truth: while maternal deaths in Africa have fallen by 40% since 2000, the continent still accounts for 70% of all maternal deaths worldwide. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a wake-up call.

We’ve come far, but we’re still dangerously far from where we need to be.

A Step Forward, But a Marathon Ahead

Let’s look at the numbers. Maternal mortality dropped from 727 to 442 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2023. That’s progress. But at this pace, we’ll only get to around 350 by 2030—a far cry from the Sustainable Development Goal of fewer than 70.

Let that sink in. To meet that goal, the region needs to accelerate its annual reduction rate twelvefold. Twelve times faster. How realistic is that when some clinics still lack electricity or the most basic medical supplies?

Meanwhile, 1 million newborns die every year in Africa, many from conditions that are preventable with the right care—sepsis, preterm birth, lack of emergency neonatal services. These are challenges wealthy nations addressed generations ago.

“Preventable” Shouldn’t Mean “Inevitable”

We know the culprits: haemorrhage, infections, obstructed labour, unsafe abortions, premature births. These are mostly preventable or treatable, yet they still end thousands of lives daily.

The issue isn’t knowledge—it’s political will, resources, and accountability. Without those, tools stay unused, clinics stay under-equipped, and women stay at risk.

The “Hopeful Futures” We Want Must Begin Now

This year’s World Health Day theme—“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”—is compelling. But we have to be clear: slogans don’t save lives. Action does.

Yes, the WHO and its partners are supporting maternal health acceleration plans, antenatal/postnatal care, and wider skilled birth attendance. It’s encouraging that over 60% of countries now report that more than 80% of births are attended by trained personnel—up from just 28% in 2010.

That’s progress. But let’s not pop the champagne just yet. Because millions of mothers in rural or conflict-affected areas still give birth without a single trained professional by their side.

What good is national progress if it leaves the most vulnerable behind?

This Isn’t Just a Capacity Issue—It’s a Question of Commitment

The roadblocks—underfunded health systems, workforce shortages, weak leadership, and frequent crises—aren’t new. But they are fixable. What’s missing is the priority they deserve.

Every time a health budget sidelines maternal care, a woman dies from treatable complications. Every time a skilled midwife leaves for better pay elsewhere, another birth happens without support.

Maternal and newborn health shouldn’t be a side note—it should be the cornerstone of public health strategy.

We Need Bold Moves, Not Band-Aids

If we truly want to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths by 2030, we must act decisively:

Invest massively in health systems, especially in rural and fragile settings.

Retain skilled health workers, not just train them.

Ensure emergency obstetric and neonatal care functions even amid pandemics, conflict, or climate shocks.

Demand transparency and accountability in maternal health spending.

And above all, commit to equity, so no woman’s survival depends on her location or income.

Final Thought: Life Shouldn’t Be a Lottery

Pregnancy should never be a death sentence. Childbirth shouldn’t be a gamble. And babies deserve more than to die unnamed, unseen, and uncounted.

Africa has made progress—but now is the moment to demand urgency, resources, and justice for every mother and child.

Behind every statistic is a human life—a future that could’ve been. It’s time we stop calling this slow progress “success,” and start demanding the bold transformation maternal and newborn health truly needs. One that reaches every woman, everywhere.

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