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As global aid cuts take their toll, maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa is facing a catastrophic decline. New data indicates that newborn mortality rates have surged by over 80% in this region, exposing the dire consequences of reduced international support, particularly from the UK and the US. The situation is compounded by ongoing conflicts and widespread displacement, leaving mothers and infants vulnerable during childbirth.
Alarming Increase in Neonatal Mortality
Recent statistics reveal a staggering rise in neonatal deaths, with rates jumping from 3.1 to 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births between 2025 and 2026. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) provided exclusive data covering over three million refugee women across 20 countries, highlighting a troubling trend: deaths within the first year of life have increased by 111%, while mortality rates for children under five have risen significantly by 50%.
Despite the UNHCR’s caution that the data does not pinpoint aid cuts as the sole cause of this crisis, it underscores a troubling deterioration in child survival indicators. The ramifications of these cuts are profound, with over 11 million people losing access to vital sexual and reproductive health services, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
The Impact of Aid Reductions
The closure of nearly 1,100 UNFPA health facilities and mobile clinics, along with staff reductions and shortages of essential medication, has led to significant health service disruptions. In Nigeria alone, 386 health facilities have ceased operations, leaving approximately 380,000 individuals without care. Similarly, over 100,000 people in the Central African Republic have lost access to crucial health services, exacerbating an already precarious situation for mothers and babies.
Dr Mitchell Sangma, a health adviser at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), stated, “When humanitarian lifelines are severed, the consequences are predictable. I fear even more maternal deaths will happen quietly in communities, unseen and unrecorded.” The data indicates that the progress made over the past two decades in reducing maternal deaths is at risk of being undone as funding decreases.
A Call to Action Amidst Growing Concerns
As international aid diminishes, the effects on maternal health are increasingly grave. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that the global maternal mortality rate now stands at 197 per 100,000 live births, well above the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal target of below 70 by 2030. Alarmingly, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects that health-related official development assistance could plummet by up to 46% between 2024 and 2026, potentially leading to 23 million additional deaths across low- and middle-income countries by 2030.
In Somalia, CARE International has been forced to shut down a significant number of health and nutrition centres, resulting in a spike in severe malnutrition. The country already grapples with one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally. Ummy Dubow, the country director for CARE, lamented, “When these centres shut down, pregnant women and young children pay the ultimate price.”
A Political Responsibility
The cuts to aid, particularly those initiated by the Trump administration in early 2025, have sparked outrage and calls for urgent action. Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee in the UK Parliament, emphasised the dire consequences of these reductions for the most vulnerable populations. She warned, “Unless the international community comes together to support low-income countries, I fear the situation will only get worse.”
Monica Harding, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for international development, echoed these sentiments, urging the new UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to take decisive action to reverse these aid cuts. The need for political will and a united international response has never been more crucial to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.
Why it Matters
The alarming rise in neonatal mortality rates across sub-Saharan Africa is not merely a statistic; it represents the lives of mothers and babies who are paying the price for funding cuts and political decisions. The international community must recognise the urgency of this crisis and work collectively to restore and enhance support for maternal and child health services. Every mother and child deserves access to essential healthcare, and reversing these trends is imperative to ensure a healthier future for the most vulnerable populations.