Improving access to safe blood is critical to reducing maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high in sub-Saharan Africa, driven in large part by inadequate access to safe blood, particularly in rural areas. Here, we examine how systems-level governance and sustainable innovation can close this gap and advance maternal health equity across the region. Oyebamiji et al. highlight the high maternal mortality occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, driven in large part by inadequate access to safe blood. They examine how systems level governance and sustainable innovation can close this gap and advance maternal health equity across the region.