New York-(LM) The United Nations has issued a stark warning that cuts to aid budgets are jeopardizing years of progress in reducing maternal mortality rates, potentially leading to a rise in deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to a report released Monday by UN agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 40% decline in maternal deaths globally between 2000 and 2023. This decline has been largely attributed to improved access to essential health services. However, the WHO cautioned that recent aid cuts are already reversing vital services in maternal, newborn, and child health in many countries. These cuts have resulted in reduced staffing, facility closures, and disruptions in supply chains for critical treatments such as those for hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia.
The UN highlighted that reductions in funding for other health areas, including malaria and HIV treatment, would further jeopardize maternal survival rates. Even before the recent cuts led by the United States, there were signs of backsliding in some regions, and global progress has slowed since 2016.
The report noted that in 2023, despite advancements, a woman continues to die approximately every two minutes from complications that are primarily preventable and treatable, totaling around 260,000 deaths that year.
The UN is calling for urgent action to restore funding and support for maternal health services to prevent further loss of life and ensure the continuation of the progress made in recent years.
Leadership Magazine
