African voices must lead the transformation of health systems across the continent. MamaYe supports civil society – including activists, health professionals, journalists and young people – to advocate for the quality of care they need and for those in power to allocate resources to reproductive, maternal and neonatal health.
Accountable health systems bring together multi-stakeholder groups to use evidence to prioritise together, plan together and monitor progress together.
Rachel Cullen,
Reproductive Health Team Director, Marie Stopes International

What's happening in Regional

Every day in sub-Saharan Africa, 542 women die from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications and 2,800 newborn babies die. Most of these deaths can be prevented.

Investments across Africa, including the Global Financing Facility (GFF), are strengthening the technical and financial resources for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (also known as RMNCAH) in Africa. With more young people alive than ever before, harnessing the potential of these young people is a priority for governments and for the African Union.

If sub-Saharan African countries adopt policies that expand opportunities for young people and invest in human capital, the combined demographic dividend would be $500 billion a year, for up to 30 years.

%
Government spending on health as a % of total health expenditure
%
of women have an unmet need for modern contraceptives

maternal deaths per 100,000 live births