Maternal mortality has declined globally, but the World Health Organization says it “is still a disaster in the Africa region,” where the continent accounts for more than two-thirds of maternal deaths.
The latest WHO fact sheet links long distances to a health facility and lack of transport to these deaths, and other studies have shown many mothers in Africa are forced to walk to a maternity facility due to a widespread lack of transportation services.
Poor transportation services for mothers in labor have been worsened by the lack of ambulances specifically assigned to maternal health care in most African countries, and cuts across urban and rural setups, according to Sinnah Lamin, a Princeton in Africa fellow at the International Rescue Committee, or IRC.
About the author
David Njagi
David Njagi is a Kenya-based Devex Contributing Reporter with over 12 years’ experience in the field of journalism. He graduated from the Technical University of Kenya with a diploma in journalism and public relations. He has reported for local and international media outlets, such as the BBC Future Planet, Reuters AlertNet, allAfrica.com, Inter Press Service, Science and Development Network, Mongabay Reporting Network, and Women’s Media Center.
