This year, World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, will shine a spotlight on one of the most urgent challenges in global health: maternal and newborn survival. Under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments, healthcare leaders, and communities to take bold action to ensure safe pregnancies, healthy births, and better postnatal care for women and their babies.
The campaign comes at a critical moment, with maternal and newborn health progress stalling in many countries, particularly in conflict zones and low-resource settings. WHO is using this opportunity to urge investment, policy reform, and international cooperation to reverse these alarming trends.
The Silent Crisis: The Urgent Need for Action
Every seven seconds, a preventable maternal or newborn death occurs somewhere in the world.
According to WHO estimates:
Nearly 300,000 women die each year due to pregnancy or childbirth complications.
Over 2 million newborns die within their first month of life.
Another 2 million pregnancies end in stillbirths.
Most of these deaths occur in low-income countries or crisis settings, where healthcare systems are under strain due to war, climate disasters, or economic instability. When hospitals shut down, medical supplies run out, or roads to healthcare facilities are blocked, pregnant women and newborns face life-threatening risks.
Currently, 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet the United Nations' global maternal survival targets by 2030, and 1 in 3 countries will fail to reduce newborn deaths as planned. WHO warns that funding shortages, lack of healthcare access, and stalled medical research could make these setbacks even worse.
What Needs to Change? WHO’s Vision for Better Maternal and Newborn Care
To improve survival rates and overall quality of care, WHO is calling for increased investment in proven, high-impact healthcare interventions.
These include:
More pregnancy screenings and early detection of complications
Better access to emergency obstetric care, particularly during labor and delivery
Specialised care for preterm and underweight babies, as prematurity is now the leading cause of death in children under five
Greater attention to underlying maternal health risks, such as mental health conditions, malnutrition, and noncommunicable diseases
Beyond survival, WHO emphasises the need to prioritize women’s long-term health and rights. This includes:
Paid maternity leave and job protections to support postpartum recovery
Universal access to family planning services
A stronger focus on mental health care for new mothers
Addressing the impact of climate change on maternal health, as rising global temperatures have been linked to preterm births, stillbirths, and pregnancy complications like hypertension and gestational diabetes
Maternal and Newborn Health: An Investment, Not a Cost
Research shows that every $1 invested in maternal and newborn health yields $9 to $20 in economic return. Healthy mothers and babies mean stronger, more productive communities.
As part of this year’s World Health Day campaign, WHO is working to:
Expand emergency obstetric and newborn care in 55 high-risk countries through its Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere initiative.
Publish new clinical guidelines to help doctors manage postpartum hemorrhage, one of the world’s leading causes of maternal death.
Strengthen healthcare access for pregnant women in conflict zones, including mobile clinics in Syria and Sudan.
Improve training and accreditation programs for midwives and frontline healthcare workers, who provide essential care to millions of women worldwide.
How You Can Get Involved
Want to help ensure a healthier future for women and babies worldwide?
Here’s how you can support the campaign:
Spread the word by sharing information on social media using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll.
Participate in global and local events to raise awareness about maternal and newborn health challenges.
Donate to the WHO Foundation, which funds programs that protect pregnant women and newborns in vulnerable communities.
Share personal stories—WHO will be launching a storytelling initiative to highlight birth experiences from around the world and recognise healthcare workers who provide exceptional care.
A Call for Global Solidarity
Women’s health is often treated as an afterthought, yet no society can thrive without ensuring the health and safety of mothers and newborns. This World Health Day, WHO is urging governments, donors, and the global health community to come together in solidarity—not just to save lives, but to create a world where every woman and baby has a chance to survive and thrive.
It’s time to turn healthy beginnings into hopeful futures.
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