Lessons Working towards Zero Maternal Mortality

Despite significant progress made since 1994 on maternal health, some 295,000 women still die annually due to pregnancy-related complications. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of women also suffer severe and chronic complications from obstetric fistula. Most of these deaths and disabilities occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and are linked to socioeconomic inequality and women’s disempowerment. What will it take for countries to eliminate preventable maternal and neonatal deaths? This session will highlight the significant achievements that select countries have made to achieve maternal health and universal health coverage, leveraging the platform of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and best practices between countries. This concurrent session will also take stock of the gaps in access to maternal health care, and offer an opportunity for stakeholders to recommit to the promise made to women and newborns in Cairo 25 years ago.