African Legislators Urged to Turn Maternal and Child Health Commitments Into Action

ARUSHA, Tanzania — African legislators have been urged to move beyond political commitments and take concrete action to reduce preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths across the continent.

The call was made on the sidelines of the ongoing 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Arusha, where lawmakers, health experts and development partners emphasized the need for stronger legislation, sustainable health financing and effective parliamentary oversight.

Representing Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Presidential Adviser on Reproductive and Maternal Health Ummy Mwalimu said Africa had made progress in reducing maternal mortality but warned that the pace of improvement remained insufficient.

Mwalimu said maternal mortality across African Union member states declined by 42 per cent between 2000 and 2023, but the continent still accounts for approximately 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally.

“At the current pace, Africa would not be able to reach the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births until around 2050,” Mwalimu said.

She said African countries already have the knowledge and interventions needed to prevent many maternal and child deaths, but stressed that the challenge was translating commitments into adequately funded programmes, functional health systems and measurable outcomes.

Mwalimu also highlighted President Samia's role as African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, saying the roadmap seeks to accelerate action on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health across Africa.

Parliamentarians urged to strengthen health oversight

Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania Mussa Hassan Zungu said the health and wellbeing of women and children remained a priority, noting that preventable deaths were frequently associated with barriers to accessing quality healthcare.

“Parliament has vital responsibilities to support legislation, secure adequate and predictable financing, and oversee implementation,” Zungu said.

He called for health resources to reach frontline facilities and vulnerable communities, while urging governments to prioritize equitable access to maternal and newborn services, sexual and reproductive healthcare, nutrition and adolescent health programmes.

Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union African Geopolitical Group, Ali Kolotou Tchaïmi, said parliamentarians had a responsibility to ensure that health commitments translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

He noted that lawmakers play a central role in passing legislation, approving national budgets and holding governments accountable for implementation, particularly in programmes targeting vulnerable populations.

Calls for stronger political leadership

South African National Assembly Speaker Angela Thokozile Didiza also called for stronger political leadership on maternal health and childhood immunisation.

Didiza backed the African Union's “Three Zeros” initiative, which seeks to eliminate home deliveries without skilled care, preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and the number of children who remain unvaccinated.

The initiative reflects growing efforts across the continent to address preventable deaths through improved healthcare access, skilled medical services and stronger immunisation systems.

Many maternal and newborn deaths remain preventable

Professor Diana Nambatya Nsubuga, Africa CDC's Head of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health, said evidence from all 55 African Union member states showed that many maternal and newborn deaths could be prevented.

She identified haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and anaemia among the major causes of maternal deaths. Prematurity and birth asphyxia, she added, remained significant contributors to newborn mortality.

Nsubuga urged governments and parliaments to strengthen accountability mechanisms, improve the quality of care, ensure timely reporting of deaths and make greater use of reliable health data when designing interventions.

President of the Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Tanzania, Dr Sunday Dominico, similarly emphasized the importance of adequately equipped health facilities, skilled healthcare workers and reliable blood supplies in preventing maternal deaths.

Advocates call for greater support for newborn care

Newborn health advocate Doris Mollel called on parliamentarians to strengthen legislation and budgetary support for premature and sick newborns.

She pointed to parliamentary action on parental leave and increased funding for newborn care in Tanzania as examples of how legislative decisions can influence health outcomes.

The meeting concluded with renewed calls for African parliaments to strengthen oversight, increase health-sector financing and ensure that commitments on maternal, newborn and child health translate into measurable improvements for communities.

The discussions come as African countries continue to face significant challenges in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, with policymakers increasingly emphasizing the role of parliamentary action, healthcare investment and accountability in achieving global health targets.