By Eunice Ogundare-Martins
The World Health Organization has raised the alarm over the staggering toll of maternal and newborn deaths in Africa, revealing that the region records millions of stillbirths and more than one hundred and seventy eight thousand deaths annually.
These grim figures come despite ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services across the continent.
In its latest report, the global health body stressed that many of these deaths are preventable.
Severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy, complications arising during delivery, and unsafe abortions remain the top killers of expectant mothers in Africa.
These medical emergencies are often worsened by limited access to quality healthcare, widespread low literacy rates, and the impact of persistent humanitarian crises.
For newborns, the picture is equally dire. Birth asphyxia, low birth weight, premature delivery, and infections continue to claim the lives of infants at an alarming rate.
Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden, accounting for nearly half of all neonatal deaths worldwide.
Experts say that improved prenatal care and safer delivery practices are urgently needed to reverse this trend.
While there has been some progress in reducing maternal mortality, it remains uneven across the continent.
Southern Africa has recorded encouraging declines, yet regions such as West Africa continue to grapple with the highest maternal mortality ratios.
In response to the crisis, African governments, international partners, and health professionals are intensifying efforts to strengthen healthcare systems.
Priorities include expanding access to skilled birth attendants and enhancing emergency obstetric care.
The World Health Organization insists that with coordinated action and sustained commitment, Africa can curb these preventable tragedies and build a future where mothers and their newborns survive and thrive.
