Southern Africa Cuts Teen Births and Maternal Deaths

Sixteen countries in Southern Africa just proved that focused health programs can transform millions of lives, especially for young women and mothers.

The Southern African Development Community released its 2025 health scorecard this week, revealing encouraging progress across the region. Twelve member nations have successfully lowered adolescent birth rates since 2019, a victory health officials credit to widespread HIV education and comprehensive sex education programs in primary schools.

The wins don't stop there. Six countries recorded significant drops in maternal deaths, showing that when nations prioritize maternal health, lives are saved. Meanwhile, 12 countries are on track to nearly eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2030, with five nations already hitting that milestone this year.

The scorecard uses a simple traffic light system to track 20 health indicators across the region, making it easy for governments and citizens to see where progress is happening. It measures everything from family planning access to gender-based violence prevention, creating accountability for the promises governments made in their 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

South Africa's Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi emphasized the urgency of maintaining this momentum. With only five years until 2030, he called for bold action and domestic funding to sustain these health gains.

The report also highlights areas needing more work. Eight countries still aren't meeting women's contraceptive needs, and gender-based violence remains high across all member states. No country has met the target of spending 15% of its national budget on health, though four have allocated more than 10%.

The Ripple Effect

Better reproductive health creates waves of positive change far beyond doctor's offices. When teen pregnancy rates drop, more girls stay in school and eventually join the workforce. When maternal deaths decline, children grow up with their mothers, and families stay intact.

Research shows every dollar spent on family planning can return up to $100 in long-term economic benefits. That means healthier populations, stronger economies, and more opportunities for everyone.

The progress also demonstrates what regional cooperation can achieve. Since 2018, UN agencies have partnered with Southern African nations to develop and track these health goals, with support from Sweden. When countries share what works, everyone benefits faster.

Despite funding challenges and the need for continued effort, this scorecard proves that targeted health programs can deliver real results for millions of people across an entire region.