Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Damian Drain
Maternal Mortality remains a large global issue. Ireland recognizes that this issue is most apparent in countries of low to lower-middle income, with 92% of all maternal deaths occurring in places like these. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 70% of all maternal deaths in 2023(Western Pacific WHO.) Ireland is a high-income country with strong maternal care services and a low maternal mortality rate of just 3.7 deaths per 100,000 live births(Ireland WHO Statistics.) Because Ireland has already achieved this level of maternal and child healthcare, it strives to help other countries accomplish this as well.
In 2023, the UN Human Rights Council adopted resolution 54/16, stating that preventable maternal deaths are a violation of human rights(Resolution 54/16.) Ireland supported this resolution, reasserting its commitment to maintaining the quality of maternal healthcare. Ireland also supports WHO’s Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality initiative, which sets global goals and gives guidance to reduce maternal deaths and improve maternal healthcare worldwide(EPMM.) These efforts contribute directly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births(SDG Target.)
While Ireland has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates, it remains committed to lowering the amount of preventable maternal deaths worldwide. Ireland advocates for increased access to skilled healthcare attendees and emergency childbirth care in countries with less resources. Ireland also strives to provide technical expertise and training to strengthen healthcare systems. Ireland promotes the adoption of WHO strategies such as the EPMM. Specifically, Ireland supports expanding the WHO-endorsed Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services, which include basic and comprehensive EmONC, to ensure obstetric emergencies get timely responses(Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.) Ireland also prioritizes midwifery training, especially in underserved and rural areas, to build local capacity. These interventions help address primary causes of maternal death such as postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, and hypertensive disorders which remain leading killers in many low-resource settings(Levels and Causes of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity.)
