Saly, Senegal – A landmark expert consultation convened by the UNFPA Regional Office for West and Central Africa (WCARO) has set the stage for a transformative shift in tackling maternal mortality across the region.

Under the theme “Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Shaping the Future in the WCA Region”, the two-day high-level meeting brought together government ministers, policymakers, leading scientists, health experts, development partners, and community leaders. Their mission: to refine and validate an ambitious Roadmap for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality—one that moves beyond medical interventions to embrace a multisectoral, society-wide approach.

The consultation focused on three key objectives: first, identifying strategic solutions to sustain long-term political and financial commitment to maternal health; second, reviewing and enhancing the draft roadmap to maximise its effectiveness; and third, initiating concrete steps for its implementation, including forging partnerships, reflecting on financing options, and defining measurable milestones.

A Paradigm Shift in Addressing Maternal Mortality

Dr. Sennen Hounton, UNFPA’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, underscored the need for a fundamental shift in how maternal mortality is approached. “We must move away from a narrow health-sector perspective. Maternal mortality is not just a medical issue; it is a matter of political will or the lack thereof, social justice and human rights,” he stressed. He also called for a renewed cross-cutting focus that integrates maternal health into broader development priorities. “Whether we are addressing climate change, education, food security, digitalisation, or youth employment, we must ensure that women’s and girls’ health and survival are at the heart of our policies. Only then can we unlock their full potential and drive sustainable development in our region.”

Discussions centred on three core action pillars and five priority areas—termed “disruptors”—designed to accelerate progress. These include:

• Empowering adolescent girls and young women
• Strengthening midwifery and healthcare workforce capacity
• Improving the quality of maternal healthcare
• Expanding societal accountability and advocacy
• Promoting a multisectoral approach to maternal health through cross-cutting development initiatives

A Call for Urgent Action and Political Commitment

UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Dr. Diene Keita delivered a powerful message on the need for urgent action, highlighting the persistent challenge of high maternal mortality rates in the region. “The status quo is unacceptable. We must find solutions now,” she urged.

She drew attention to the direct link between high maternal mortality and issues such as teenage pregnancy and child marriage. “Early marriage places young girls at greater risk of complications during childbirth. Addressing harmful practices and ensuring access to family planning services are crucial steps in preventing maternal deaths,” she emphasised.

A Roadmap for Action

The expert consultation concluded with a strong commitment to translating discussions into tangible action. Key recommendations include:

• The need for effective strategization to generate and requisite political will and momentum at the highest levels of government  across the West and Central African region to ensure the prioritization of maternal health as a critical governance concern demanding urgent action;
• Further enriching the roadmap’s scope and focus with country-based experiences and field-based perspectives;
• Strengthening community engagement by empowering local leaders to advocate for maternal health
• Supporting governments in integrating maternal and child health into national health programmes and universal health coverage frameworks
• Generating political momentum through targeted engagement with policymakers
• Expanding maternal mortality audits and exploring innovative financing solutions for maternal health initiatives

Following the roadmap’s validation, efforts are underway to prepare for its launch, with an advisory panel constituted to guide policy and programme decisions throughout its implementation. This marks a critical turning point in the fight against maternal mortality in West and Central Africa.

Through renewed commitment and strategic action, UNFPA and its partners are set to drive accelerated progress—ensuring that every woman and girl in the region has access to quality maternal healthcare and the fundamental right to a safe and healthy life.

Present to grace the closing ceremony was UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem who exhorted the eminent gathering and UNFPA colleagues to “ not rest and to keep on working hard until every mother, every adolescent girl, and every woman in the West and Central African region can exercise their rights, make informed choices, live with dignity and enjoy life’s promise”, reiterating that  “childbirth should be an empowering and affirming experience, a celebration of life's incredible promise -- not the profound tragedy that it current is to millions of women across the region and around the world"