A landmark initiative jointly spearheaded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Unitaid, bolstered by a substantial EUR 20 million injection from the European Union, is set to revolutionize maternal healthcare in Africa.
The venture, forged through a strategic alliance between two global health powerhouses, aims to eradicate the leading cause of maternal mortality in childbirth on the continent.
Postpartum hemorrhage, claiming the lives of 70,000 women annually, emerges as the primary culprit behind maternal deaths worldwide, with Africa bearing a disproportionate burden due to limited access to quality healthcare.
The groundbreaking partnership, marshaled by Unitaid, renowned for its trailblazing solutions in low- and middle-income nations, and UNFPA, a vanguard in global maternal health advocacy, seeks to surmount barriers impeding access to life-saving medications and fortify health systems across Africa.
Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, underscored the imperative of translating innovative solutions into tangible outcomes, stressing the indispensable role of robust health systems. Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing every woman’s fundamental right to safe childbirth.
The initiative, unveiled at a high-level European Union-African Union event on global health, will expedite the deployment of novel maternal health medications in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. Furthermore, it will catalyze policy dialogues, fortify regional procurement mechanisms, and foster knowledge exchange to enhance postpartum hemorrhage management across Africa.
Unitaid will spearhead efforts to address demand, cost, quality, supply, and optimal utilization of life-saving medications, while UNFPA will concentrate on bolstering national capacity, particularly empowering midwives in accordance with WHO guidelines. The collaborative endeavor, aligned with the “Team Europe Initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (TEI SRHR) in Africa,” epitomizes a collective commitment to enhancing maternal health outcomes.
This joint endeavor, bolstered by an additional EUR 20 million injection from the European Union, is poised to amplify the impact of ongoing efforts to combat maternal mortality in Africa, underlining the commitment of global partners to safeguarding the health and well-being of mothers and newborns across the continent.