United Nations Says Aid Cuts are a Threat to Maternal Health

(The Post News)– The United Nations has issued a stark warning, noting that significant aid cuts are threatening hard-won gains in maternal health worldwide. As countries reel from unprecedented reductions in humanitarian funding, the specter of rising maternal deaths looms large.

A new report, released on World Health Day, reveals a troubling trend. While global maternal deaths decreased by 40% from 2000 to 2023, progress has slowed dramatically since 2016. An estimated 260,000 women died during or after childbirth in 2023 alone. That’s about one maternal death every two minutes.

The decline in maternal deaths can be attributed to improved health access for expectant mothers. Nonetheless, with funding cuts, essential services are collapsing. Hospitals are closing, healthcare workers are losing their jobs, and supply chains for life-saving medications are faltering. The consequences for pregnant women in vulnerable situations are dire.

According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, despite some encouraging statistics, childbearing remains risky for many women, and to achieve better health outcomes, it is necessary to expand access to excellent maternity care and enhance reproductive rights.

The report also sheds light on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact. In 2021, an additional 40,000 women died due to complications linked to pregnancy, driven by service interruptions and direct COVID-19 effects. Reliable maternity care is crucial, especially during emergencies like pandemics.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, emphasized the stakes, stating that ssually, when a mother dies, the baby also dies and they know how to prevent these tragedies; however, Funding cuts are putting pregnant women at grave risk, particularly in fragile settings. Russell added that they must invest urgently in midwives and community health workers to ensure survival for mothers and babies

Inequalities still plague global maternal health. The report reveals that sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 70% of all maternal deaths in 2023. Despite progress, regions facing conflict and poverty lag significantly. Maternal mortality has stagnated in several areas, including Europe and North America. According to Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, all women should have access to adequate maternal health services, and they must improve supply chains, the staff, and data collecting to solve this epidemic.

Women in humanitarian emergencies are especially at risk. Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths occur in conflict-affected areas. For a 15-year-old girl in these settings, the risk of dying from a maternal cause can be as high as 1 in 51, compared to just 1 in 593 in more stable nations.

As the world grapples with these challenges, the call to action is clear: more support for essential maternal healthcare is non-negotiable. The lives of mothers and their babies depend on it.