Saving Mothers, Strengthening Systems: Advancing Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths in Liberia

When Mary Johnson went into labor at JFK Maternity Hospital, she did not know whether the complications she faced would be manageable. What she did know was that timely care could make the difference between life and death.

Across Liberia, too many women still face preventable risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Strengthening maternity care is therefore not only a health priority—it is a matter of human rights.

To support Liberia’s commitment to end preventable maternal deaths, the United Nations, through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has donated life‑saving medical equipment and essential supplies to the JFK Maternity Hospital, the country’s largest referral facility.

The donation includes delivery beds, fetal dopplers, emergency obstetric kits, and infection‑prevention supplies—critical tools that frontline health workers rely on every day to provide safe, dignified maternity care.

“Every woman deserves the right to give birth safely, regardless of where she lives,” said a UNFPA representative. “This support strengthens national systems and directly improves the quality of care for mothers and newborns.”

For midwives like Esther Kparn, the difference is immediate. “With the right equipment, we can work faster, safer, and with more confidence,” she said. “It saves lives.”

This intervention is part of the UN’s broader support to Liberia’s National Health Policy and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3—ensuring healthy lives and promoting well‑being for all. Working as One UN, agencies continue to support the Government to expand access to skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, and reproductive health services across the country.

Because behind every statistic is a mother, a child, and a family whose future depends on safe care—at the right time.