The Gambia hosted a two-day national stakeholder consultation on 14 and 15 October 2026 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel to address the country’s maternal mortality rate of 129 deaths per 100,000 live births. Permanent Secretary Dr Yusupha Touray stated that "maternal and newborn mortality remained a persistent challenge despite investments in healthcare infrastructure, referral systems, essential medicines and specialist training." Addressing the assembly, UNFPA Resident Representative Mamadou Dicko noted that "the consultation was a critical step towards translating political commitment into practical, measurable interventions." These discussions aimed to establish a roadmap for reducing preventable deaths across the nation. Government officials and health representatives gathered to evaluate existing services and identify gaps within the current maternal health system.
Addressing Persistent Maternal Health Challenges
The World Health Organisation set a global target for maternal mortality of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births to be achieved by 2030. Current data indicates that The Gambia faces significant hurdles in meeting these international standards. Deputy Director of Health Services Dr Fatoumata Dibba addressed the gap between local outcomes and global objectives during the stakeholder consultation. She stated, "The Gambia remained above the World Health Organisation’s target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030." Health officials continue to evaluate strategies to align national health outcomes with these benchmarks. Reducing the maternal mortality rate to meet the 2030 goal remains a primary objective for the health sector through the newly developed roadmap.
Political Commitment and Strategic Planning
President Adama Barrow initiated the Presidential Initiative on Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal Mortality following discussions held with the UNFPA Regional Director in February 2026. This initiative serves as a framework to support the implementation of the Regional Roadmap for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality, which covers the period from 2025 to 2029.
The Ministry of Health has integrated these objectives into its health sector strategy for 2026–2030, which prioritizes the prevention of avoidable maternal deaths. During the proceedings, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr Fatoumata Dibba noted that "the country had made progress in reducing maternal mortality."
Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Babucarr Jobe explained that his office would work to "ensure the roadmap is properly costed and aligned with national budget priorities." His department intends to manage the financial requirements of the new strategy to maintain support for the 2026–2030 sector goals. The government expects these planning efforts to provide a stable foundation for the clinical interventions identified during the recent stakeholder consultation.