Maternal health champions at CPD: It’s time to act for mothers and newborns

New York, UNITED NATIONS – On the first day of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), donors and partners came together with midwives and doctors, to join UNFPA and WHO and take stock of new global maternal mortality estimates, released today on World Health Day. 

Maternal mortality declines, but inequalities persist

The numbers tell a twofold story of progress, and unfinished business. The report, titled Trends in Maternal Mortality, confirms that global maternal mortality has dropped by 40 per cent since 2000 – from 328 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 197 in 2023. However, it also reveals persistent and severe disparities. In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths.

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, maternal deaths remain disproportionately high. Weak health systems and new and protracted humanitarian crises have led to stagnating results in some countries – and reversals in others. Inequities based on geography, income or ethnicity persist, leaving marginalized communities most at risk.

The solutions exist — but investments are falling short

A 40 per cent drop in global maternal mortality since 2000 demonstrates that progress is possible but political commitment and financial investments are needed. Solutions are known – but sfunding is lagging behind.

For instance, a global shortage of 900,000 midwives presents a severe threat to progress: Midwives can avert two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. While they are the frontline workers for maternal health, they too often find themselves inadequately supported to achieve their potential and provide life-saving services.

UNFPA is leading with solutions

At CPD, UNFPA was joined by partners to launch The Midwifery Accelerator: Expanding Quality Care for Women and Newborns. This initiative calls on governments and partners to urgently step up investment in midwifery care to save the lives of women and their newborns around the world. The Midwifery Accelerator offers an evidence-driven approach to expand access to urgently needed midwifery care. It also seeks to scale up access to life-saving medicines and interventions, investing in midwifery models of care, and responding to the global roll-back on women’s rights. 

Maternal health is not just a moral imperative, or just a health issue. Investing in maternal health also fuels economies, strengthens communities, and unlocks the potential of future generations. Studies show that every $1 invested in care provided by midwives delivers up to a 16-fold return in economic and social benefits. 

"Midwifery is about providing woman-centred care that respects and supports women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and beyond,” said Ambassador Thomas Zahneisen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations. “After all, maternal health is not just a medical necessity, but is integral to women’s autonomy, dignity and rights. As we move forward, we must uphold these rights and continue to listen to and amplify women’s voices." 

As funding for maternal health, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health is cut across the globe, the risk of backsliding is real, and growing. Without urgent action, the world could lose hard-won gains made over the past two decades. UNFPA is calling on all partners and donors to prioritize maternal health and invest in the frontline heroes – midwives – who are at the heart of the solution.