Kenyan doctors harness virtual reality to cut maternal deaths. [iStockphoto]
Every hour, an estimated 20 women and more than 300 children under the age of five die worldwide from largely preventable causes linked to pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood illnesses.
In 2024 alone, approximately 4.9 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday, including 2.3 million newborns who did not survive their first month of life. While global efforts have helped reduce maternal and child deaths over the past two decades, progress has slowed significantly, with sub-Saharan Africa continuing to bear the heaviest burden.
The region accounts for nearly 58 per cent of all newborn deaths globally, and children born in fragile or conflict-affected settings face survival odds three times lower than those elsewhere.
Kenya is not immune to the crisis. According to the Ministry of Health, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 women die every year from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, many from causes that are preventable with timely access to skilled care.
