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The UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Health Organisation on Monday said that Bangladesh's progress in maternal health could be at risk due to announced and potential funding cuts by key development partners.

They expressed the concern in a joint statement following the launch of a new UN global report, ‘Trends in Maternal Mortality’, on World Health Day on March 7, which highlighted global progress in reducing maternal deaths. 

The report shows a 40 per cent decline in maternal deaths worldwide from 2000 to 2023, while Bangladesh surpassed this global average with a remarkable 79 per cent reduction in its maternal mortality ratio—from 523 to 115 deaths per 1,00,000 live births during the same period— equating to around 4,000 maternal deaths in 2023.  

This progress, with an average annual rate of reduction of 7 per cent from 2000 to 2023, reflects sustained efforts to improve access to essential health services, said the report.

However, echoing global concerns in the UN report, the report underscores that unprecedented aid cuts are forcing countries to scale back essential maternal, newborn, and child health services. 

‘A continued reduction in this support could severely hinder Bangladesh’s ability to sustain this momentum and reach the Sustainable Development Goal targets. As such, government budget allocation to health will need to sustain the gains, while focusing on strengthening health systems to ensure out-of-pocket spending doesn’t leave most vulnerable mothers without their health needs covered,’ said Stanley Gwavuya, UNICEF representative OiC in Bangladesh.

Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO’s Representative ai in Bangladesh said, ‘The new report on maternal mortality underscores both the progress we’ve made and the urgent challenges ahead.’  

Mentioning that the main causes of maternal death in Bangladesh are obstetric hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortions, and other indirect complications, the statement warned that funding cuts could lead to reduced facility functionality, loss of healthcare professionals, and disruptions in essential supply chains—undermining both the availability and quality of maternal care.

As an added risk for the most vulnerable, out-of-pocket spending on health in Bangladesh is alarmingly high—accounting for 74 per cent of total health expenditure, one of the highest rates in the world—pushing 5 million people into poverty each year and potentially putting at risk mothers who lack the resources to meet their maternity-related needs, according to the statement.

To address this, UNICEF and WHO emphasised the need for strong health systems, which include well-equipped facilities, a skilled healthcare workforce, and reliable access to essential life-saving medicines, diagnostic facilities and supplies.