Cut of Aid Budgets could lead to More Female Deaths During in Pregnancy & Birth, says UN Report

• UN agencies have published a warning report that includes World Health Organization (WHO) as well.
• The report gives warning for cut to aid budgets being frightening to worsen years of progress in dropping number of females dying during pregnancy

In a report by UN agencies, a warning has been raised stating cut to aid budgets are now intimidating to weaken several years of progress in dropping female’s number dying during pregnancy as well as childbirth which could lead to increased deaths.

Between 2000 and 2023, there was a total of 40 percent decline in maternal deaths majorly because of better access to essential health services, as per the report that also includes World Health Organization (WHO).

According to WHO, this could go in the opposite direction. The report didn’t mention any specific cuts. However, it came with wake to foreign aid freeze by the U.S. government in addition to the funding’s ending via United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for numerous programmes.

In a statement, WHO’S Universal Health Coverage Assistant Director-General Dr Bruce Aylward said, “One of the headline messages is that the funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backward. The cuts have had "pandemic-like effects" on health systems globally and could have a "more structural, deep-seated effect.”

The cuts were already reducing vital services for maternal, newborn and child health in numerous countries while deducting staff numbers, facilities and disrupting supply chains closing or supplies which involves hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia treatments as well.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist.