African Union Launched Maternal Health Roadmap
The 2026-2030 strategy targets sharp reductions in maternal and child mortality across the continent.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Pregnancy
Live Poll
Do you believe continental health initiatives are effective at reducing maternal and child mortality rates?
The African Union has introduced a new Continental Roadmap to improve maternal, newborn, and child health through 2030. This initiative aims to address health disparities across all 55 member states.
Why it matters
The region currently accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths, making this coordinated push necessary to accelerate progress toward 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The policy targets a 2026-2030 window to address severe disparities, including nearly half of global stillbirths and child deaths under five occurring in Africa. Progress will be monitored using a new seven-indicator Presidential RMNCAH Scorecard.
The players
African Union
An intergovernmental organization consisting of 55 member states that coordinates regional public health policy and development.
Samia Suluhu Hassan
The President of Tanzania appointed as the AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health to lead advocacy efforts.
Africa CDC
The specialized public health agency that provides technical coordination and supports member states in implementing health interventions.
The details
The Roadmap centers on the Three Zeros framework: Zero Home Delivery, Zero Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths, and Zero Unvaccinated Children. Implementation relies on aligning political leadership and investments with technical oversight provided by the Africa CDC to ensure high-impact interventions reach local populations.
Timeline
The Continental Roadmap spans the 2026-2030 period.
Member states aim to meet key health targets by 2030.
Health Landscape
This roadmap represents a strategic escalation of the continent's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It shifts from fragmented local efforts toward a unified, scorecard-driven model of accountability.
Readers across the continent can expect an increased focus on institutional delivery and standardized childhood vaccination programs through 2030. These health priorities are common topics to discuss with a local primary care provider or prenatal clinic to ensure you are accessing available care.
The takeaway
This roadmap establishes a formal framework for tracking maternal and infant survival rates across Africa. Families should monitor local health service availability as member states implement these new standards for delivery and immunization.
Further reading
For more information on the latest clinical guidance and global initiatives, visit our Pregnancy section.
More information
Review the full strategy details in the Continental Roadmap download.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Africa CDC.
Live Poll
Do you believe continental health initiatives are effective at reducing maternal and child mortality rates?
