Maternal Health Services Disrupted in Mozambique's Niassa Province Due to Aid Cuts

Infant mortality has declined from 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1997 to 24 per 1,000 in 2022/2023, and the maternal mortality ratio has fallen from 690 to 233 per 100,000 live births over the same period.

members in Niassa reported that pregnant women and new mothers are left without support in many districts, with some still awaiting follow-up treatments. In villages along the Niassa River, home births remain common due to distances and the need to cross Lake Niassa by boat, with trained matrons providing basic care but struggling with complications.

Other organizations, such as ActionAid, are experiencing funding reductions, leading to shortages of medicines, equipment for deliveries, and anesthesia materials. Clotilde Noa, who works for ActionAid in Mozambique, stated that the country is prone to natural disasters like cyclones and floods, which impact health infrastructure.

Noa added that ActionAid has received requests for funding support from local organizations and district governments. To address aid reductions, organizations are shifting to sustainable approaches, including integrated community-based programs and strengthening primary health care.

UNFPA is collaborating with non-traditional donors like South Korea and Ireland, exploring African partnerships, and integrating maternal health with climate resilience to maximize funding impact. It is also building capacity for domestic NGOs and provincial health authorities.

EngenderHealth is seeking new funding and partnerships for technical assistance in Niassa and other areas. Abacassamo stated that without secured funding in the coming months, the organization may withdraw from Mozambique. Mobilizing domestic resources remains challenging amid precarious finances and climate change effects on the agricultural sector, which accounts for about 25 percent of GDP.