According to the WHO, a pregnant woman or a newborn dies every 7 seconds.

According to a new study, more than 4.5 million women and children die every year during pregnancy, childbirth or the first few weeks after birth.

These are chilling numbers. According to a WHO report published by United Nations News As of Tuesday, May 9, progress in improving the survival of pregnant women and newborns has stalled since 2015. More than 4.5 million women and children die each year during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first few weeks after birth, which is equivalent to one death every seven seconds.

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WHO counts approximately 290,000 maternal deaths each year. But it also reports 1.9 million babies who die after 28 weeks of pregnancy and 2.3 million neonatal deaths in the first month of life. Deaths that would be preventable or treatable if adequate care were available for these patients.

Lack of financial investment

The Covid-19 pandemic is not for nothing. Because according to the latest WHO survey on the effects of the pandemic on essential health services, around 25% of countries are still experiencing disruptions in their services. And the life-saving care provided to sick newborns during pregnancy or after delivery has been severely affected by this situation.

” If we want to see different results, we have to do things differently. More and smarter investments in primary health care are now needed so that every woman and child, wherever they live, has the best chance of health and survival “, said the Dr. Anshu BanerjeeDirector of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Aging at WHO.

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Except that primary health care is underfunded in some countries and can therefore hamper survival prospects, especially for premature babies. Why less than a third of countries worldwide say they have enough neonatal care units to care for babies.

What solutions?

To remedy this and reduce the mortality rate of women and newborns, WHO presents solutions. According to the organization, more skilled and motivated health workers are needed, especially midwives, as well as the provision of essential medicines and supplies, clean water and reliable electricity.

Clearly, better investment in public health around the world, which would help poorer women in particular. But according to the United Nations, more than 60 countries would not be ready to meet the goals by 2030.