Botswana has committed itself to achieving the SDG targets, which include ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and reducing maternal mortality to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 livebirths by 2030. Targeting quality improvements in maternal health services including management of obstetric emergencies, together with understanding the social, cultural and other barriers and bottlenecks to service delivery, is critical if preventable maternal deaths are to be reduced.

Ngami Health District has been one of the districts in Botswana that was struggling with a high burden of maternal deaths over the years with the district reporting 9 maternal deaths out of the 85 maternal deaths reported by the country in 2016, making it the third highest after the 2 national referral hospitals. Following 2 national summits that brought together the districts contributing the highest maternal mortality deaths, Ngami districts developed a response plan aimed at instituting and implementing remedial measures for the identified causes. This resulted in a significant decline as the District reported three maternal deaths in 2017 and 2 in 2018.

UNFPA supported the Ministry of Health and Wellness to document the Ngami Health District experience to chronicle the initiatives and lessons learned from the implementing their response plan.