Hundreds of mothers still dying during childbirth 

Justicia Shipena 

Hundreds of mothers are still dying during childbirth in Namibia. The latest data shows 139 deaths for every 100 000 live births.  This is almost twice the global target of fewer than 70 by 2030.

The figure was revealed at the launch of the national strategy for reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent health and nutrition (2025/2026–2029/2030) in Windhoek on Thursday. 

Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said Namibia has made progress in expanding access to healthcare, but maternal and newborn deaths remain a major problem. 

“Namibia’s maternal mortality ratio is estimated to be at 139 per 100 000 live births, which is still high compared to the global benchmark,” she said.

This means many women continue to lose their lives during or after childbirth, despite more health facilities and trained staff being available. 

However, maternal mortality dropped from over 400 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2000 to 139 in 2025.

The new data also shows that 24 newborns die for every 1 000 live births, while 41 children under the age of five die for every 1 000 births.

Although the number of children dying before their fifth birthday is slowly decreasing, the rate of newborns dying in their first days of life is not improving quickly enough. 

Luvindao said the new health strategy aims to tackle these issues by improving care for mothers and children, ensuring safer births, and supporting families through better health and nutrition services.

“This strategy is not just a policy, and this triennial report is not just a report—it is a promise and a roadmap for action,” she said.

She noted that exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low at 49%, meaning only half of Namibian babies are breastfed exclusively for the first six months. 

“This is not good enough because we want all our children to grow and develop and contribute to the development of Namibia,” she said.

She added that 24% of children under five are stunted, largely due to poor nutrition, sanitation, and healthcare. 

“Stunting can have irreversible consequences, impacting individuals and societies for generations,” she said.

Luvindao emphasised that reducing stunting and improving maternal and child health require cooperation across multiple sectors, including nutrition, sanitation, healthcare, and family support systems. 

She emphasised the need to prioritise quality healthcare and guided future interventions with findings from maternal death reviews.

The new health strategy targets improved antenatal and postnatal care, skilled birth attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, immunisation, and adolescent health, as well as access to quality healthcare for all. 

Speaking at the same event, Juliet Nabyonga, the acting World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Namibia, commended the country for its progress in maternal health. 

She said findings from the triennial report show progress in the maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response system and the national rollout of the Labour Care Guide. However, many deaths remain preventable, with haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and pregnancy-related complications identified as the leading causes.

The launch also came shortly after the first-ever World Postpartum Haemorrhage Day, marked on 5 October 2025. 

“Given that haemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal death in Namibia, I urge the Ministry of Health to incorporate these latest global recommendations into the new national guidelines,” Nabyonga said.

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