The UN warns that cuts to aid budgets could reverse years of progress in reducing maternal deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.

HEALTH & WELLNESS By Aniket Chakraborty Apr 11, 2025 Arrow

Between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths declined by 40%, thanks to better access to essential health services.

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However, recent funding cuts, particularly from the U.S., threaten to undermine this progress, the WHO warns.

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The freeze in U.S. aid and cuts from other donor countries like Britain could have a 'pandemic-like effect' on global health systems.

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Vital services for maternal, newborn, and child health are being rolled back, with staff cuts and facility closures.

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Disruptions in supply chains for critical treatments like hemorrhage control and pre-eclampsia care are worsening the situation.

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Even before these cuts, maternal health was backsliding in some countries, with progress slowing globally since 2016.

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In 2023, 260,000 women died from complications during pregnancy, with one woman dying every two minutes globally.

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The worst conditions are in conflict zones and countries facing natural disasters, where maternal health is under immense strain.

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The WHO continues to highlight the solutions that exist, but without adequate funding, many women remain at risk.

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