Losing a mother during childbirth is one of the greatest challenges for any country’s health system.
However, recent international statistics show that, compared with many countries around the world, Sri Lanka has made excellent progress in reducing maternal deaths.
According to the latest international estimates for 2023, published jointly by United Nations agencies including the World Health Organization, 197 mothers die for every 100,000 live births worldwide.
In Sri Lanka, however, this figure is only 18.
This means Sri Lanka’s maternal mortality ratio is more than ten times lower than the global average.
Sri Lanka also compares well with other South Asian countries:
India: 80
Bangladesh: 115
Nepal: 142
Pakistan: 155
Sri Lanka: 18
Meanwhile, according to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health’s domestic statistics, 47 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births were recorded in 2021. This fell to 33 in 2022 and dropped further to 25 in 2023.
Notably, a total of 62 maternal deaths were recorded in Sri Lanka in 2023.
Sri Lanka’s free health service, early medical check-ups for expectant mothers, the dedicated work of family health officers, and the maternity and gynecological services provided in hospitals have all made major contributions to this progress.
Nevertheless, even though Sri Lanka is in a better position than many countries, completely preventing the loss of mothers during childbirth remains a challenge.
Sri Lanka’s achievement in saving mothers' lives is yet another strong testament to the importance of the country’s free health service.
A nation’s true development lies not only in its economic progress, but also in protecting the life of every mother!