Africa needs a 12-fold increase of its annual reduction in mortality rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, despite the continent’s progress in reducing the rate since 2010.

This is according to the World Health Organisation, in a statement which quoted estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group as it marked World Health Day 2025 on April 7, themed ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’, to drive investment and momentum in maternal and newborn health.

WHO said although Africa recorded a 40 per cent decline in maternal mortality, from 727 to 442 deaths per 100 000 live births between 2000 and 2023, “the region still accounts for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths.

Each year, an estimated 178,000 mothers and one million newborns die in Africa, many from preventable causes, according to WHO.

At the current annual reduction rate of 2.2 per cent between 2000 and 2023, the region “is projected to have nearly 350 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, five times higher than the SDG target of fewer than 70 deaths.”

Likewise, although stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates have declined by 30 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, between 2000 and 2023, according to WHO, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 47 per cent of stillbirths and 46 per cent of global newborn deaths.

The region is projected to record a neonatal mortality rate of about twice the SDG target of at least as low as 12 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030.

The global health organisation blamed inadequate financing, weak governance, health workforce shortages, disease outbreaks and conflicts for disruptions of maternal and child health services, thereby hindering the progress of reducing mortality rate, especially in fragile and crisis-affected areas, putting women and children at risk.

WHO, however, noted that more than 60 per cent of countries in the African region now report that over 80% of births are attended by skilled health personnel, a significant improvement from just 28 per cent in 2010.

However, progress varies across the region, with rural and crisis-affected areas continuing to face acute service shortage gaps.

Acting WHO regional director for Africa, Chikwe Ihekweazu, stated that in too many places, pregnancy and childbirth “are still life-threatening events.”