NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

By Abhinaya Prabhu

In Sub-Saharan Africa, maternal and newborn deaths remain alarmingly high despite the availability of proven, life-saving medical interventions. Every year, over 287,000 women die from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, while 2.3 million newborns perish in their first month of life. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 70% of global maternal deaths, with Nigeria and Ethiopia among the countries most affected. These deaths are often preventable, but persistent challenges, such as weak procurement systems, limited budgets, and fragmented supply chains, continue to restrict access to essential maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) medicines.

 Photo courtesy Dominic Chavez/GFF.