Maseru, 9 July 2025 - In a significant move to reduce preventable maternal and perinatal deaths, the Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNFPA, UNICEF, and other partners, initiated the development, national validation, and Training of Trainers (ToT) on the new Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) guidelines.

Lesotho continues to experience a high maternal mortality rate, currently estimated at 478 deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 529 in 2020. The development of MPDSR guidelines marks a critical step toward strengthening accountability, improving health system responsiveness, and ultimately enhancing maternal and newborn survival.

Over the past two weeks, a series of high-level technical engagements have taken place involving the Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health Technical Working Group and aligning national stakeholders around a unified approach to maternal and newborn health. 

This was followed by a national stakeholder consultation and validation workshop, ensuring broad buy-in and a shared understanding among all relevant health system actors.

To ensure effective implementation, a Training of Trainers (ToT) for key national and district-level personnel was condcuted. The training equipped frontline implementers with the knowledge and skills necessary to cascade MPDSR processes to sub-national levels and to ensure long-term sustainability. Mme Mampho Mafereka, Maternal Health Programme Manager at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the relevance of the training. "By empowering stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills through the Training of Trainers, this ensures the training can be cascaded down to the district level. It provides accountability, allowing us to delve into the root causes of maternal and perinatal deaths and develop remedial actions to reduce these deaths."

WHO’s Expert for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and Ageing at the Multi-Country Assignment Team (MCAT) Hub for Southern Africa Dr. Roseline D. Doe emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that it will serve as a quality improvement system aimed at reducing maternal and perinatal mortality. “Tracking and addressing the causes of maternal and perinatal deaths is key to saving lives. By continuously identifying and reviewing deaths, we can detect and address contributing factor and, ultimately prevent future deaths.”

As the next step, the Ministry of Health will develop a comprehensive MPDSR implementation plan, which will also include the establishment of a National MPDSR Steering Committee to oversee coordination, compliance, and follow-up actions. 

This initiative is part of Lesotho’s broader efforts to strengthen health system performance and reduce preventable deaths among women and newborns. It reflects the Government’s commitment to meeting national and global targets, including Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

With technical support from WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and other partners, Lesotho is laying the foundation for safer pregnancies, better data-driven decisions, and stronger health systems- as MPDSR is not just a data system, it is a quality improvement process that strengthens care and accountability.