The Postpartum Haemorrhage Foundation has welcomed renewed global calls for action following the release of the Gates Foundation 2026 Annual Letter, which warns that global health progress has suffered its first major reversal in a generation. The message resonates strongly with the Foundation’s mission to end preventable maternal deaths, particularly those caused by postpartum haemorrhage.
In his letter, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman highlights a sobering reality, that in 2025 more children are likely to have died than in the previous year, reversing gains achieved over decades. He attributes this setback to declining development assistance, rising debt burdens in low-income countries, and weakened prioritisation of health investments. For organisations working on maternal survival, this reversal is not abstract, it is felt daily in under-resourced facilities, delayed referrals, blood shortages, and preventable obstetric emergencies.
The PPH Foundation views this moment as a critical call to action. Postpartum haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, yet it is highly preventable with timely care, trained health workers, strong referral systems, access to blood, and effective use of data and innovation. Suzman’s emphasis on focusing resources where they save the most lives aligns directly with the Foundation’s pillars of prevention, health systems strengthening, innovation, partnerships, and advocacy.
The Gates Foundation’s renewed commitment to maternal health, immunisation, nutrition, and primary health care mirrors the PPH Foundation’s planned activities under the End Postpartum Haemorrhage Initiative. These include capacity building for frontline health workers, deployment of context-appropriate technologies, research and data use to guide decision-making, and sustained engagement with policymakers to prioritise maternal health financing.
Suzman’s call for innovation, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence to strengthen delivery systems, also reinforces the Foundation’s vision for future-focused solutions such as simulation-based training, digital decision support, and improved emergency response for obstetric care. Equally important is his emphasis on equity, local leadership, and strong public institutions, principles that underpin the PPH Foundation’s work across Kenya and beyond.
As global health faces difficult choices amid constrained resources, the PPH Foundation remains committed to ensuring that no woman dies while giving life. The setbacks outlined in the Gates Foundation Annual Letter serve not as a reason for retreat, but as renewed justification for urgent, coordinated action to end postpartum haemorrhage and safeguard maternal health for future generations.
Source: Gates Foundation 2026 Annual Letter, The Road to 2045, released February 3, 2026.
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