Namibia has reduced its maternal mortality rate from 400 per 100,000 deliveries to 139.

The World Health Organisation’s country representative, Dr. Richard Banda, made the announcement at the commemoration for World Health Day in Katima Mulilo. The day is being held under the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures". 

Dr. Banda noted the significance of the reduction, highlighting it as a milestone, as many countries, particularly low-income countries in the African region, still experience maternal deaths every seven seconds.

Despite some countries making strides in improving healthcare, he stressed that there are still challenges such as underfunded health systems, infrastructure gaps, health worker shortages, conflict, emergencies and climate related shocks, which continue to impact women and children as services are disrupted. 

The World Health Organisation, he said, continues to commit and call on governments and relevant stakeholders to increase investment in maternal and newborn health, including infrastructure, human resources and essential medical supplies, while also building health systems that can deliver high-quality, accessible and equitable care to all women and newborns.