Liberia launches a Call-to-Action campaign against maternal and newborn deaths.
By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh
Montserrado, Liberia, April 8, 2025 – Worrisome statistics reveal here that at least twenty (20) mothers and one hundred and twenty (120) newborns die every hour from childbirth health complications across the world.
Dr. Abdullahi Sule, World Health Organization- Liberia Officer-In- Charge, disclosed these statistics, on Monday 7th, April 2025, at the launch of a Call to Action, Campaign on Maternal and newborn health, held in Bentol City, Montserrado County.
He details WHO global maternal reports from 2000-2023, disclosing that Africa has a total of 178,000 maternal, out of one million newborn deaths annually.
Dr. Sule says in the region, one woman dies in childbirth every two minutes. He further unveils that nearly 300,000 women die globally each year due to pregnancy or childbirth- related causes.
In addition, 2.3 million babies die within their first month of Life, and 1.9 million are stillborn-but loses concentration.
Addressing the launch, aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality here, WHO Officer-In-Charge calls for high-investment in maternal and newborn health services to reduce-maternal death.
He names investment in antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetrics, and postnatal care, among others.
Dr. Sule emphasizes a need for an expanded equitable access to quality care, in hard to reach and crisis affected areas, while calling on the 55th Liberian Legislature to enact and uphold laws that protect women’s and children’s health rights, urging for Maternity protection and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Launching the year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health, Senate-Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, reiterates a call to action to prevent maternal deaths.
She stresses increase investment, Education and Empowerment, Community engagement, Policy advocacy and comprehensive approach to addressing healthcare crisis.
Senator Karnga Lawrence also calls for allocation of more resources to improve healthcare, infrastructure, adequate appropriate skilled human resources, particularly in rural areas.
She recommends implementation of comprehensive education programs that informs women, adolescent girls and youth about reproductive health, prenatal care, collaborating with traditional leaders, midwives, and families, among others.
Meanwhile, WHO global analysis on maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 found that most common causes are heavy bleeding following childbirth, unsafe abortions leading to severe infections and hemorrhaging, and pre-eclampsia, a serious complication that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and labour. Editing by Jonathan Browne
