44 African countries agree to be publicly graded on whether mothers and newborns survive

44 African Union Member States backed a high-level communiqué endorsed at UNGA 81: zero home deliveries without skilled care and referral, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, zero unvaccinated children. Governments committed to annual public reporting to the AU via a Continental RMNCAH Scorecard, plus biennial Heads of State review chaired by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, appointed AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health in February 2026. WHO chief Tedros told the meeting maternal mortality across Africa has fallen about 40% over 25 years and under-five mortality by more than half.