A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed a troubling rise in maternal mortality, with 260,000 women dying in 2023 due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. This equates to one death every two minutes, with the vast majority occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
The WHO warns that progress toward reducing maternal deaths has stagnated, putting the global goal of reducing maternal mortality to 71 per 100,000 live births by 2030 at risk. Current projections suggest this target will be missed by more than double.
The report highlights that recent cuts to international aid by countries such as the US and UK are jeopardizing maternal healthcare services. The US alone has reduced more than $770 million in funding for maternal health and family planning. These cuts have already impacted critical services, including access to life-saving medicines and the employment of healthcare workers, particularly midwives in developing countries.
About 60 nations, primarily in Africa and South Asia, rely heavily on US-supported programmes. In Nigeria, which accounted for nearly one in three global maternal deaths last year, $92 million in aid is at risk. WHO officials warn that the rollback in funding could reverse decades of progress.
The UK has also announced further reductions in foreign aid, slashing spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income by 2027. Critics, including Labour MP Sarah Champion, have expressed concern that these cuts will disproportionately affect women and girls.
WHO and UNFPA stress that maternal deaths are preventable with sufficient investment, skilled healthcare workers, and political will. They warn that without renewed commitment, inequalities will deepen and maternal health outcomes will worsen, especially in conflict-affected and low-resource settings.
