The latest data reveals a staggering increase in newborn deaths across sub-Saharan Africa, as cuts to international aid jeopardise maternal and child health in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. According to a report exclusively shared with The Update Desk, neonatal mortality rates have surged by over 80 per cent, raising pressing concerns about the future of maternal care in these areas.
Alarming Statistics Highlight the Crisis
Recent findings from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) indicate that neonatal mortality—a measure of deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life—rose from 3.1 to 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births between 2025 and 2026. This increase reflects a broader trend of rising mortality rates among children, with deaths within the first year of life escalating by 111 per cent during the same period. The data analysed encompasses over three million refugee women across 20 countries, underscoring a distressing reality for mothers and infants alike.
The fallout from aid reductions is stark. According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 11 million people have lost access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, while nearly 1,100 health facilities and mobile clinics have shuttered. Moreover, approximately 6,000 healthcare workers, including vital frontline staff and midwives, have been forced out of their roles due to funding shortfalls.
Impact of Aid Cuts on Health Services
The scale of the crisis has prompted grave concerns from health experts and humanitarian organisations. Dr. Mitchell Sangma, a health adviser with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), highlighted that sub-Saharan Africa is at the epicentre of this escalating crisis. Many countries in the region rely heavily on international support to maintain essential healthcare services. When this support is withdrawn, the consequences are dire.
In Nigeria, for example, the closure of 386 health facilities and mobile clinics during 2025 and early 2026 has left around 380,000 people without vital maternal health services. Similarly, over 100,000 individuals in the Central African Republic have lost access to crucial health support, exacerbating an already precarious situation.
The Broader Context of Global Health Funding
Despite significant progress made over the last two decades in reducing maternal mortality—recording a 40 per cent decline—the recent cuts to international aid are reversing these achievements. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted a deceleration in the annual decline of maternal mortality rates, from 2.6 per cent between 2000 and 2010 to just 1.5 per cent in the past decade.
Current projections from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggest that official development assistance for health could plummet by as much as 46 per cent from 2024 to 2026. Such drastic reductions threaten vital programmes related to population and reproductive health, including those addressing HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
In light of these figures, advocacy groups have raised urgent alarms. Sarah Shaw from MSI Reproductive Choices stated, “The world has made remarkable progress in reducing maternal deaths, proving that these deaths are not inevitable when women can access quality healthcare.”
A Call for Action
The ramifications of these cuts extend beyond immediate healthcare access. Reports from organisations like CARE International indicate that in Somalia alone, 50 out of 80 health and nutrition centres have closed due to funding shortfalls, with more set to follow. The situation is dire, particularly for pregnant women and young children, who will inevitably face the consequences of these closures.
Furthermore, Save The Children has reported a significant shortage of midwives in Somalia, exacerbated by drastic salary cuts for hospital staff. This shortfall may reach between 690,000 and 830,000 by 2030, placing an disproportionate burden on the African continent.
Calls for the UK government to reverse cuts to the overseas aid budget have intensified, especially under the new leadership of Prime Minister Andy Burnham. With bilateral aid to African nations projected to decline from £1.6 billion to under £700 million, the potential for increased maternal and infant mortality is alarming.
Sarah Champion, chair of Parliament’s International Development Committee, remarked, “The babies and mothers in the poorest countries are bearing the brunt of this ideology. Unless the international community addresses these issues, the situation will only worsen.”
Why it Matters
The escalating crisis of maternal and newborn mortality in sub-Saharan Africa serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of healthcare systems in low-income regions, where cuts to international aid can lead to devastating consequences. The data paints a grim picture, illustrating not only the immediate risks to mothers and infants but also the potential regression of hard-won progress in global health. As governments reassess their aid strategies, the health and lives of millions hang in the balance, underscoring the urgent need for collective action and renewed commitment to maternal health services.
