BRAZZAVILLE – The Africa region has been decreasing maternal mortality rates since 2000, but by 2030, the annual decline rate must increase by 12 times.
Despite a 40% decline in the death rate of between 727 and 442 per 11,100,000 births between 2000 and 2023, the region still accounts for 70% of global mothers’ deaths. An estimated 178,000 mothers and 1 million newborns die in the African region each year. Most are preventable causes.
The current annual reduction rate between 2000 and 2023 was 2.2%, with the region projected to have around 350 maternal deaths per 110,000 births by 2030, five times higher than the SDG target of less than 70.
Similarly, stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates fell by 30% and 33% from 2000 to 2023, respectively, but sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 47% of stillbirths and 46% of global neonatal deaths. The region is projected to record SDG target neonatal mortality rates roughly twice as many as at least 12 deaths per 1,000 people born by 2030.
Marked under the theme of “Sound Startings, Hopeful Futures,” this year’s World Health Day calls on governments, donors and communities to end preventable maternal and neonatal deaths and to strengthen efforts to prioritize the long-term health and well-being of women and children.
“In so many places, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening events,” said Dr. Chikwe Yekweaz, who plays the regional director of Africa. “But this doesn’t have to be the case. Every dollar invested in maternal and neonatal health offers key returns, including healthier families, stronger societies, and sustainable economic growth.”
Important barriers to progress include inadequate funding, weak governance, lack of healthy workforce, repeated shocks such as illness outbreaks and conflict. All of this disrupts maternal and child health services. Women and children are particularly at risk in vulnerable and intimidated environments.
The main causes of maternal deaths in this area include bleeding, hypertension disorders, infections, dangerous abortion and occlusion labor, and all conditions that are largely preventable or treatable with access to timely care. Among newborns, preterm birth, complications during childbirth, sepsis and neonatal infections, and congenital abnormalities are common causes of death.
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Those who support the nation across the region in implementing a wide range of interventions. These include the development and deployment of maternal and neonatal health acceleration plans, as well as the implementation of pre- and post-natal care guidelines.
Other priorities include increasing access to skilled healthcare workers in birth and emergency obstetric care, expanding special care for small and sick newborns, and addressing social and economic factors of health inequality.
Over 60% of African regions currently have more than 80% of births with skilled healthcare workers, reporting a significant improvement from just 28% in 2010. However, progress is different across regions, with rural and crisis-affected areas continuing to face a gap in acute service shortages.
World Health Day 2025 marks the launch of a one-year campaign to promote investment and momentum in maternal and neonatal health. Through stronger partnerships, accountability and bold leadership, we aim to build a future where everyone and partners die while giving life, and every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
