African leaders call for urgent action to end preventable deaths of women and children

The Seventy-fifth Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa (RC75) has put the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents (WCAH) firmly in the spotlight, with leaders and partners calling for accelerated action, stronger accountability, and greater investments to end preventable deaths.

At the meeting, held this week, 43 statements were delivered – 30 from Member States and 13 from partners – underscoring the urgency of tackling Africa’s heavy burden of maternal and child mortality.

Africa accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths and 55% of child deaths, despite significant progress between 2000 and 2023, when maternal deaths fell by 40% and under-five mortality by more than half.

“Every day, roughly 800 women and newborns die due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth,” delegates heard, with WHO warning that current progress remains uneven and insufficient to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

WHO presented its working paper “Accelerating progress in the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents by transforming health systems in the African Region”, outlining three flagship approaches: prioritizing health investments, expanding service delivery capacity, and embedding equity and resilience into essential health services.

Member States echoed these themes. Kenya raised concerns over resource shortages, noting that “key challenges include commodity gaps and skilled health workforce attrition.” Seychelles called for robust data to guide decision-making, while Zambia stressed that “we are using data to drive health programmes and address challenges such as health systems inequalities.”

Malawi drew attention to high teenage pregnancy rates, saying it was working to improve training and access to life-saving commodities.

With global health financing under strain, countries emphasized the need for domestic investments. “We particularly call for investment in health as a driver of socio-economic development,” said the representative from Seychelles.

A Lancet study cited at the meeting warned that cuts to U.S. funding and the dismantling of USAID could result in 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million among children under five.

Senegal, a member of the Global Leaders Network (GLN), urged stronger accountability mechanisms within the African Union, stating: “Senegal calls for joining the Global Leaders Network to institutionalize accountability for the health of women, children and adolescents within the organs of the African Union.” Kenya backed the call, pressing for “stronger regional mechanisms for accountability and data use.”

Civil society partners reinforced this message. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) noted:

“We know what works; the challenge is ensuring commitments are implemented, tracked and reviewed transparently, with communities, youth and civil society meaningfully engaged.”

Opening the session, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema offered a deeply personal reflection on Africa’s health challenges:

“I was born in a health center with no water, no electricity. My grandmother was the birth attendant. This remains a reality for too many African women and children today.”

He outlined Zambia’s reforms, from expanding health facilities and recruiting specialists to linking health and education so that over two million children returned to school. Looking ahead, he urged African leaders to prioritize four actions: resilient health systems, local manufacturing, regional solidarity, and stronger alignment with global frameworks.

“These challenges are only beginning, therefore we need to respond positively and aggressively. We must see the opportunity in challenges,” he added, pledging Zambia’s leadership in vaccine manufacturing.