It exposes how efforts to stop women and babies dying in childbirth have been blunted, with aid cuts playing a significant role. The researchers projected around 1,000 additional maternal deaths per 100,000 live births across the six countries within a single year. It was early 2025 when the Trump administration abruptly dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the world’s largest provider of humanitarian and development aid. Then came the announcement that UK aid cuts would follow, in order to help pay for an increase in defence funding. World leaders must act now to protect maternal health and ensure mothers can access the care they need.”