The death of a woman almost every two minutes during pregnancy or birth

A report issued by the World Health Organization and other United Nations bodies said that the complications of pregnancy or childbirth led to the death of a woman almost every two minutes during the year 2023.

The report, which was published today, said that this is equivalent to an estimated 260,000 women worldwide.

The World Health Organization added that mothers’ deaths between 2000 and 2023 decreased by 40 percent worldwide, due significantly to improving access to basic health services.

However, the organization warned that the pace of improvement has slowed down since 2016.

The report stated that human financing discounts had severe effects on health care in many parts of the world, forcing countries to retreat from the vital services of the health of the mother, the newborn and the child.

Promote health and reproductive rights for women

The general manager of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanum Gebrisos, said that in addition to ensuring access to good motherhood, the promotion of health and reproductive rights for women and girls is very important.

He added: “While this report shows a glimmer of hope, the data also highlights the severity of pregnancy in many parts of the world now despite the fact that there are solutions to prevent and treat complications that cause the vast majority of mothers’ deaths.”

It is noteworthy that one of the goals of the United Nations for sustainable development is to reduce maternal mortality rates from 328 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000, to less than 70 by 2030.

The report explained that “achieving this is an unprecedented challenge.”

He added: “There is a need for quick measures to protect the health of mothers and end the tragedy of mothers’ deaths. Women have the right not to be limited to survival of pregnancy, but to live in good health.”