Every two minutes a mother dies in the world due to pregnancy or childbirth complications. And one billion women and girls suffer from various forms of malnutrition. Drawing attention to these statistics on the occasion of the upcoming Mother’s Day is UNICEF.
Despite the global decrease of 40% in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, the pace of improvement has significantly slowed since 2016: it is estimated that 260,000 women died in 2023 due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.
UNICEF dedicates Mother’s Day to the theme of maternal nutrition, essential for maternal and child health throughout pregnancy until birth: according to the UN agency for children, over 1 billion women and adolescent girls suffer from various forms of malnutrition and two-thirds face a deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals. And over 500 million women suffer from nutritional anemia, a condition that has a serious impact on energy and overall health. These conditions compromise their health and increase the risk of life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
The rise in food prices and financial difficulties push many of them to prioritize feeding their families rather than themselves. In low-income areas and those affected by crisis, inadequate funding and limited access to health services exacerbate the problem, leaving many mothers without the care they need.
A mother’s nutritional status is a key factor in the survival, growth, and development of daughters and sons, influencing their nutrition and health throughout life and also impacting the next generation.
To address this crisis, UNICEF has launched the Acceleration Plan for the prevention of malnutrition and anemia in pregnancy, targeting sixteen priority countries where the needs are most acute. The Plan is designed to provide essential nutritional services to support women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, ensuring both maternal and child nutrition.
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