Gates Foundation, Wellcome Leap Commit $100m To Halve Stillbirths
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Nearly two million babies are stillborn worldwide every year, with almost half of the deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
A new $100 million initiative aims to change that, targeting a 50 per cent reduction in stillbirth rates within a decade in selected countries.
The Gates Foundation and Wellcome Leap announced the initiative, known as Uzima, at the World Health Summit 2026 Signature Event in Berlin on Monday.
Under the programme, both organisations will contribute $50 million over the first three years to identify and test innovations that could prevent stillbirths, beginning with partners in sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative will explore technologies such as artificial intelligence-enabled ultrasound, sensors and labour-monitoring tools to help health workers detect pregnancy risks early and respond promptly to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Anita Zaidi, president of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, said the initiative would equip health workers with better tools to identify risks and intervene in time to save lives.
Despite the scale of stillbirths globally, prevention remains underfunded, with significant gaps in research and innovation addressing pregnancy complications that contribute to the deaths.
The organisations said additional funding and partnerships would be needed to expand successful interventions, calling on governments, investors and philanthropies to support the programme.
The announcement came as global health leaders at the summit called for stronger health systems, international cooperation and domestic investment amid declining international funding.
Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, urged governments to take greater responsibility for protecting their citizens’ health, stressing that declining external support should not weaken national commitments.
The summit, themed “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health,” continues through Tuesday, 13 October, bringing together policymakers, health experts, civil society groups and philanthropies to discuss solutions to global health challenges.
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