Home / Health / Ardern Rescues Maternal Health Project from US Aid Cuts
Ardern Rescues Maternal Health Project from US Aid Cuts
1 Jan
Summary
- Jacinda Ardern's fund revived a maternal health project cut by US aid.
- The project tests a new approach to measure and treat postpartum bleeding.
- Safer Births in Crisis now focuses on South Sudan and Burkina Faso.
A vital project aimed at saving mothers during childbirth, previously cancelled due to drastic US foreign aid reductions, is now operational thanks to former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. The Safer Births in Crisis initiative, spearheaded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), will test innovative methods, including a specialized drape to measure postpartum bleeding, in South Sudan and Burkina Faso.
Previously budgeted at $10 million (£7.5m) and planned for seven countries, the project now operates with $4 million (£3m) in two crisis-hit nations. US aid cuts in January 2025 severely impacted healthcare systems in South Sudan, leading to increased maternal mortality. Similarly, Burkina Faso saw nearly 30,000 pregnant women miss prenatal care.
Through the Matariki Fund for Women, Ardern's support has enabled the IRC to re-establish the program, albeit with a narrower focus. The coalition will also test the home-use of misoprostol, a drug effective against deadly bleeding, and monitor for potential issues like the reuse of medical supplies in conflict zones.
