Africa’s most preventable health system failure
Stillbirth is Africa’s silent epidemic and one of the clearest indicators of health system failure.
Every 30 seconds, a baby is stillborn on the continent. In 2023 alone, nearly one million third-trimester stillbirths occurred across Africa — most of them preventable. Countries cannot claim progress toward health security or universal health coverage while stillbirth rates remain high and unexplained. Without accelerated action, an estimated five million stillbirths will occur between 2026 and 2030.
The State of Africa’s Stillbirths Report is the first continent-wide stocktake dedicated exclusively to stillbirths. It calls for urgent action to transform stillbirth prevention into a catalyst for strengthening health systems and advancing Africa’s health security and resilience.
Developed by more than 80 African experts from over 20 countries, the report is led by Africa CDC, the International Stillbirth Alliance, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UNICEF, the University of Cape Town (UCT), and WHO. It reflects growing continental leadership and demand to elevate stillbirth on the political agenda and strengthen accountability.
The report calls for a continental shift from silence to accountability — ensuring that every stillbirth is counted, reviewed, and prevented wherever possible.
