Daijiworld Media Network – Geneva
Geneva, Apr 7: A sobering report released by the United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World Health Day 2024 has revealed that in 2023, a woman died every two minutes due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, totalling more than 700 maternal deaths daily.
World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, adopted the theme ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’ this year, urging governments and global health institutions to intensify efforts in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, while promoting long-term well-being of women.
The report titled ‘Trends in maternal mortality’ pointed to a 40 per cent global decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2023. However, the progress has slowed significantly since 2016.
An estimated 260,000 women lost their lives in 2023 due to complications arising during pregnancy or childbirth. Shockingly, more than 90 per cent of these deaths occurred in low and lower-middle-income countries, exposing stark inequalities in access to quality maternal healthcare.
"While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Dr Tedros emphasised the need to not only ensure access to quality maternity care but also to strengthen women's underlying health and reproductive rights to secure better outcomes during and after pregnancy.
The report also provides the first global insights into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternal health. In 2021 alone, around 40,000 additional maternal deaths were recorded, marking an increase from 282,000 in 2020 to 322,000.
These additional deaths were linked not only to direct Covid-19 complications but also to disruptions in routine maternity services, highlighting the critical importance of uninterrupted maternal care during global health crises.
“This data underscores the urgent need for resilient health systems that ensure pregnant women have access to both routine and emergency care even during pandemics and other emergencies,” the report stated.
Global health leaders are now calling for renewed investment and commitment to protect the lives of mothers and newborns and to secure a future where no woman dies while giving life.