The World Health Organization (WHO) in Botswana has raised a stark warning: shrinking global health funding could critically undermine maternal and neonatal care across Africa. Speaking at the World Health Day commemoration in Gaborone, WHO Botswana representative Juliet Bataringaya highlighted that underfunded health systems, infrastructure gaps, and workforce shortages are intensifying disparities, with women and children bearing the brunt.
Recent figures from Botswana add urgency to the call. The nation's maternal mortality ratio reached 175.5 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 – a rate that far exceeds the WHO 2030 target of 70. Acting Minister of Health Lawrence Ookeditse urged expanded antenatal care, safe delivery practices, improved HIV testing, and better management of pregnancy-related complications to protect vulnerable communities.
Amid declining budgets, programs and crucial research aimed at enhancing maternal and child health are being scaled back. This development resonates not only with healthcare professionals but also with a globally connected audience—from digital natives and business innovators to thought leaders and explorers—who see the importance of sustainable, equitable progress.
Under the banner of "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," the 2025 World Health Day campaign calls for unified global action. Stakeholders emphasize the need for sustained investment and robust grassroots health interventions, framing this as a collective challenge with implications for social and economic development across regions.
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WHO warns funding cuts threaten maternal, newborn health in Africa
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