Lesotho, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a major Investment Case aimed at improving the safety of mothers and newborns.
The initiative seeks to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, address the unmet need for family planning, and combat gender-based violence and child marriage.
In 2025, the country recorded 25,252 deliveries. While many were successful, health authorities are now introducing an improved tracking system to ensure safer outcomes for every birth.
Most deliveries occurred in the urban districts of Maseru, Leribe and Berea. However, Thaba-Tseka recorded the highest number of births and fertility rates among the mountainous districts.
Dr ‘Mamotena Sekhobe of the Ministry of Health reported a significant decline in maternal deaths, which dropped from 44 in 2024 to 21 in 2025.
Despite this progress, she said postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), severe bleeding after childbirth, remains the leading cause of maternal deaths.
To address this, the government has implemented the Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system.
“This means that every time a mother or baby dies, an inquiry is conducted to determine the cause and identify measures to prevent similar incidents,” Sekhobe explained.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr Maama emphasised that the Investment Case is focused on implementation rather than policy alone.
“This is not the end. We must assess what resources we already have and act decisively. If we fail to address this properly, our mothers and children will continue to die,” she said.
UNFPA Representative John Kennedy Mosoti noted that while Lesotho has made progress in family planning, challenges remain in reducing maternal mortality and ending child marriage.
“At the current rate, we are unlikely to meet the 2030 target on maternal mortality,” Mosoti said. “We must confront the barriers and fully implement systems like MPDSR, which could significantly reduce deaths.”
Meanwhile, Senior Gender Officer Dr Nthebe Matobo highlighted the link between social issues and health outcomes, particularly the impact of child marriage and gender-based violence.
He said cultural norms continue to hinder girls’ education and expose them to early pregnancy and health risks, including HIV.
“Child marriage is a violation of human rights. It puts girls at risk during pregnancy and increases their vulnerability to HIV. Harmful patriarchal norms remain deeply entrenched in Lesotho,” he said.
Summary
- The initiative seeks to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, address the unmet need for family planning, and combat gender-based violence and child marriage.
- Dr ‘Mamotena Sekhobe of the Ministry of Health reported a significant decline in maternal deaths, which dropped from 44 in 2024 to 21 in 2025.
- “This means that every time a mother or baby dies, an inquiry is conducted to determine the cause and identify measures to prevent similar incidents,” Sekhobe explained.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
