Health 8 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
President Samia: Africa's Maternal Mortality Progress Too Slow
African leaders and health experts are calling on legislators to move beyond pledges and implement concrete actions to drastically reduce preventable maternal and child deaths across the continent. Despite some progress, the current pace is insufficient to meet global targets. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/samia-warns-africa-s-maternal-mortality-progress-remains-too-slow-5624992
African legislators are being urged to ensure that commitments to maternal and child health translate into tangible improvements for communities. During a high-level parliamentary meeting on women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health, held on the sidelines of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, experts emphasized the need for robust legislation, sufficient funding, and effective oversight of health services.
Tanzania’s National Assembly Speaker, Mussa Hassan Zungu, highlighted the critical role of parliaments in securing adequate financing and overseeing the implementation of health policies. He stressed that prioritizing equitable access to quality maternal and newborn care, reproductive health, nutrition, and adolescent health services is essential.
In a statement read by her advisor, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged the progress made in reducing maternal mortality, noting a 42% decline between 2000 and 2023. However, she cautioned that this pace is inadequate, with Africa still accounting for approximately 70% of global maternal deaths. At the current rate, the continent is unlikely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target until around 2050.
The key challenge, she noted, lies in transforming knowledge and political will into financed programs, functional health systems, and measurable outcomes. The African Union’s roadmap aims to accelerate action across reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
Experts identified major causes of maternal deaths, including hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and anemia, while prematurity and birth asphyxia are significant causes of newborn mortality. Calls were made to strengthen accountability systems, improve care quality, and ensure reliable data collection to guide interventions.
The meeting concluded with a renewed appeal for African parliaments to enhance oversight, increase health financing, and ensure that maternal, newborn, and child health initiatives yield significant results for citizens.