This year, World Health Day is observed under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”” – a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and prioritize the long-term health and well-being of women and children.
By Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO Regional Director for Africa, contributing writer
Despite progress in recent decades, maternal and newborn deaths remain a critical challenge. Nearly 300 000 women die globally each year due to pregnancy or childbirth-related causes. In addition, 2.3 million babies die within their first month of life, and 1.9 million are stillborn – losses that are concentrated in low-income countries and fragile settings, primarily in the WHO African Region.
In our Region, 20 mothers and 120 newborns die every hour – a total of 178 000 maternal and 1 million newborn deaths annually. Every seven seconds, somewhere in the world, a preventable death of a woman or child occurs.
These are not just numbers; they represent real lives lost, families shattered and futures cut short.
New data released today shows that an alarming four out of every five countries are set to miss global maternal survival goals by 2030. Sixty-five countries will miss targets to reduce newborn deaths, and 60 – the majority of them in the African Region – are off-track to meet the child mortality reduction goals.
“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” signals the start of a year-long campaign across the African Region, reinforcing the rights of every woman and child to survive and thrive. It builds on Member States’ concerns expressed through World Health Assembly resolution 77.5, and aligns with our collective goal of accelerating progress towards the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.
Countries are making strides and there is hope. Health worker training is expanding, maternal and newborn care services are being strengthened, and digital innovations are improving access. In Sierra Leone, a government-led, WHO-supported initiative has made substantial progress by upgrading facilities, training skilled personnel, and investing in the social determinants of health – offering a valuable model for others.
Yet, deep challenges persist: underfunded health systems, infrastructure gaps, health worker shortages, conflict, emergencies and climate-related shocks. When services are disrupted, women and children are worst impacted.
This emphasis is more vital than ever, especially as cutbacks to global health and development aid threaten an essential support system for millions. Many programmes delivering crucial health services have already been halted, while medical research targeting pregnant and breastfeeding women and children is also impacted.
These disruptions place the most vulnerable at even greater risk, and threaten to undo years of hard-won progress.
WHO in the African Region is launching two reports on preventable maternal and newborn mortality, providing evidence-based insights and strategies for decisionmakers. These highlight the urgent need for focused investment and multisectoral collaboration.
We must:
- Invest in high-impact maternal and newborn health services: antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetrics and postnatal care.
- Expand equitable access to quality care, especially in hard-to-reach and crisis-affected areas.
- Enact and uphold laws that protect women’s and children’s health rights, including maternity protections, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
- Address underlying social and economic factors that drive inequities.
- Strengthen accountability, coordination and innovation at all levels.
Every dollar invested in maternal and newborn health delivers major returns: healthier families, stronger societies and economic growth.
On this World Health Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every mother and baby in Africa has a healthy beginning and a hopeful future.
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