The United Nations has cautioned that more women could die during pregnancy and childbirth amid aid cuts by a few nations.
According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies, the cuts have had “pandemic-like effects” on health systems globally and could have a “more structural, deep-seated effect.”
The report stated that improved access to basic health services was a major factor in the 40% decrease in maternal fatalities that occurred worldwide between 2000 and 2023.
“That could now go into reverse,” the WHO said in a statement that accompanied the report. The statement did not specifically mention any cuts, but it came after the US government froze foreign aid and stopped funding numerous programs through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Britain and other donor nations have likewise declared their intention to reduce aid spending.
“One of the headline messages is that the funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backwards,” stated Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage.
According to the WHO, the cuts are already reversing essential services for maternity, neonatal, and child health in numerous nations, lowering staffing levels, closing facilities, and upsetting supply chains for supplies, such as haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia therapies.
Maternal mortality is the death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth. In 2023, over 700 women died due to pregnancy and childbirth related complcations, the WHO said.
