Pakistan among four nations driving half of global maternal deaths in 2023: UN report

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is one of the four countries that together with half of the world’s estimated 260,000 maternity deaths in 2023, a new report released by the UN maternity deaths estimates.

The report, released on the occasion of World Health Day, has revealed that Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have created 47 pcs of global maternity deaths, which have identified the urgent need for target intervention in these countries.

Only in Pakistan, an estimated 11,000 women lose their lives in 2023 due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, which represents about 4.1PC about 4.1pc of global burden. In 2023, the country’s estimation proportion of maternity deaths (MMR) is a lives of 100,000 lives in 155 maternity deaths. This is a global average of 197.

Despite the global decline in maternity deaths since 2000, progress in countries like Pakistan has been uneven and is now at risk of being overthrown due to a significant reduction in funds for reproductive and maternity health services.

The report says that humanitarian aid has resulted in the closure of healthcare facilities, loss of skilled health personnel, and supplies of life -protected drugs and equipment, which have disrupted the supply chains, especially in the delicate health system. These shocks are a threat to maternity and newborn survival, especially in rural and conflict -affected areas where access to emergency care is limited or non -existent.

According to the report, most of the maternal mortality in Pakistan and similar countries are caused by treatable or treatable conditions such as postpartum or curable conditions, including pre -eclassia and acidia, sepsis, complications from unsafe abortion, and caused by diseases suffering from pre -existing diseases.

Anemia, malaria, and non -communication diseases also play a significant role in maternity deaths in these settings. Many of these complications can be prevented or effectively managed by skilled birth colleagues, pre -birth care, emergency age services, and timely access. However, systematic barriers such as poverty, gender inequality, and weak health infrastructure are hindering efforts to reduce maternity deaths.

Kovide 19 pandemic diseases exposed more risks in maternity health systems. In just 2021, an estimated 40,000 additional maternity deaths were recorded globally due to the direct complications of Covade 19 and a widespread obstruction in essential health services.

Pakistan was not forgiven, as obstacles to lockdown and health care resulted in the reduction of pre -birth care and institutional supply, rural women were the most affected.

The report highlights dangerous differences in the sheets of reality and maternity health results between low income and low -income countries. In a low -income country like Pakistan, a 15 -year -old girl is at risk of death for maternity reasons, while only 1 in high -income countries is 5,600.

The maternal mortality rate in sub -Sahara Africa is 545 deaths in 100,000 living births, which is nine times higher than in Central and South Asia, where Pakistan is located, but the South Asian region is still more than 22PC in all maternity deaths in 2023.

UN agencies have warned that by 2030, the proportion of global maternal mortality is far from the world to meet the goal of meeting a sustainable development target (SDG).

This, this, will mean increasing maternity health investment, especially increasing access to skilled congenital attendees, strengthening the referral system, and solving the social commitment of health that put women at risk.

The report calls on countries like Pakistan to increase domestic financing, restoration of international aid, and increase investment in midwife, nurses and community health workers. It also recommends improving access to contraceptive and family planning services, educating girls and women, and ensuring comprehensive reproductive health services, including safe abortion where it is legal.

According to UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanam, it is not an honor to ensure access to maternity health services, but a fundamental right. “By promoting the supply chains, the midwifery workforce and the identification of the risky, we can eliminate and eliminate the tragedy of potential maternity deaths and their tremendous tool on families and societies,” he said.

The results of this report work as a wake -up call for policy makers in Pakistan, where maternity deaths have become a major challenge of public health. Since the country goes on economic hardship and humanitarian crises, the health and survival of the mothers should be a national priority to ensure a healthy and more equal future for all.