As the world marks International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent, the United Nations (UN) has warned that systemic racism and deep-rooted gender discrimination continue to push basic, quality healthcare out of reach for millions.
Joint data from the UN and the Pan American Health Organisation reveals that these inequalities have triggered a severe crisis in maternal health. Afro-descendant women face dramatically higher maternal mortality rates than national averages, with mortality ratios nearly four times higher in Ecuador, more than double in Colombia, and almost one and a half times higher in Brazil.
Health advocates stress that these stark disparities stem from a lack of culturally appropriate care and entrenched institutional bias. To close the divide, civil society groups are urging governments to collect race-disaggregated health data, guarantee respectful maternal care, and ensure women of African descent actively participate in shaping health policy.
–ChannelAfrica–
