WHO calls for investment to tackle health crisis in Pakistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked the international and national partners to urgently invest in reducing maternal and newborn deaths in Pakistan.

Every day, 675 newborns under one month old and 27 mothers die due to preventable complications. This adds up to over 246,300 newborn deaths, 9,800 maternal deaths, and more than 190,000 stillbirths every year in the country.

WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Dapeng Luo, stressed that no country can move forward without healthy mothers and babies. He said every maternal or newborn death is one too many, and the cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of action.

Investing in maternal and newborn health is crucial. Every one US dollar spent is expected to bring a return of nine to twenty dollars, benefiting both society and the economy. WHO shared that Pakistan has made progress over the years — maternal mortality dropped from 276 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006 to 155 in 2024. Similarly, neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates have also declined.

Pakistan, with help from WHO and other partners, has controlled neonatal tetanus in 80 percent of the population. However, new threats are emerging. UN agencies warned that recent global aid cuts are risking progress. These cuts have led to health facility closures, fewer workers, and shortages of lifesaving medicines.

A new UN report revealed that maternal deaths globally declined 40 percent from 2000 to 2023. But since 2016, progress has slowed, and in 2023, about 260000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth. The report also pointed out that Covid-19 caused an increase in maternal deaths due to direct complications and disrupted health services.