LEGISLATORS from 11 African countries have pledged to strengthen investment in maternal and newborn health, committing to push for increased domestic funding, improved access to life-saving commodities and stronger support for midwives.
The commitments were made at the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference 2026 held in Nairobi, Kenya, where legislators from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and other African nations issued a joint parliamentary statement aimed at accelerating progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality.
In the declaration, the MPs acknowledged progress made in improving maternal and child health but stressed that more urgent action was needed to address persistent challenges.
“We engaged in expert discussions on accelerating access to life-saving, quality-assured reproductive, maternal and newborn health commodities, increasing sustainable financing and strengthening care provided by midwives who can cost-effectively deliver 90% of all essential reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health,” the statement read.
“While we recognise the good progress in improving the quality of women’s lives in our countries, we are cognisant and committed that more action needs to be taken to save lives and improve the quality of care of women and newborns.”
The lawmakers said they would use their legislative, budgetary and oversight roles to ensure national health budgets deliver tangible results.
“To transform this vision into reality, we commit to exercising our legislative, budgetary and oversight functions to strengthen sustainable health financing for resilient health systems, support increased domestic investment for resilient health systems, and for women and newborns in particular, including progress towards the Abuja Declaration target and promoting transparent and effective use of allocated resources,” the statement read.
The legislators also emphasised the need to increase domestic health funding in line with continental commitments.
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“As Members of Parliament, we stand ready to support efforts across our countries and beyond and renew our commitment to pushing our governments to realise the 15% budgetary allocations to health, enshrined in the Abuja Declaration, and to doubling efforts towards domestic resource mobilisation and sustainable financing for maternal and newborn health outcomes,” the statement read.
The legislators also highlighted the importance of strengthening health systems to ensure medicines reach all communities.
“We want to promote efforts to strengthen procurement, regulation and distribution systems so that quality-assured MNH medicines reach all communities to the last mile without interruption,” they said.
The MPs called for stronger policy and financial support for the role performed by midwives.
“Ensure universal coverage of care provided by midwives: Establishing the legal framework to ensure midwives can practise for their full scope in compliance with the globally accredited Midwifery Models of Care and ensuring increased domestic allocation to the training, recruitment, deployment and retention of midwives, alongside practical incentives, such as tax breaks and housing allowances, to support their work and encourage them to serve where they are most needed,” the statement read.
The lawmakers said they were united in their commitment to improving health outcomes for women and children across Africa.
“Together across 11 nations, we are united in our commitment to push for progress until no woman has to lose her life while bringing life into this world, and every newborn has the chance to thrive,” the statement read.
