Statement of the Regional Director, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, on the occasion of Women’s Health Day in the African Region 2014

Today, 4 September 2014, we commemorate Women’s Health Day in the African Region under the theme: ‘Ending preventable maternal death in Africa’. This theme reminds us that despite the significant progress made by countries to reduce maternal deaths, some women in Africa still lose their lives while giving life. Most of these deaths are due to causes and conditions that are well known and can be prevented or treated. Limited access to health care, rundown health facilities and insufficient resources are some of the key challenges that hinder progress in the fight to end preventable maternal and child deaths. This situation is worsened by factors such as poverty, armed conflicts, the high level teenage pregnancy as well as the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Furthermore the causes of maternal deaths are deeply rooted in weak empowerment of women in the Region.

Putting the health of women and children first is one of the six priority areas of WHO. Indeed, over the years, WHO and partners have provided support to countries to implement multiple interventions to tackle this needy area. Progress has been made but a lot more needs to be done.

The organization also continues to embark on sustained advocacy to end preventable maternal death in Africa. As a result African Health Ministers who met at the first joint African Union Commission and WHO ministerial meeting held in Luanda, Angola in April 2014 committed themselves to reduce maternal deaths to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2035.

They also resolved to, among other actions, ensure that every woman and every child is reached with proven and high impact interventions focusing on the poorer and the hard-to-reach families. They further committed to increase investment in the health work force and contribute to addressing the social, behavioral, economic and environmental determinants of health.

On its part, WHO will continue to provide countries with technical cooperation to strengthen their capacity to deliver quality comprehensive maternal, newborn and child health interventions and strengthen partnerships for increased investments in maternal health.

As we commemorate Women’s Health Day, I would also like to underscore the critical role of partnerships with other sectors given that many determinants of women’s health are rooted in other factors such as education and environment.

I urge all and to join us in our determination to end preventable maternal deaths in Africa

I thank you.