World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.
WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health.
In June 2024 the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) , Dr. Jarbas Barbosa Jr., issued an urgent call to action to reduce maternal mortality in the Americas . In 2020, Latin America and the Caribbean experienced one maternal death every hour, reversing two decades of progress in maternal health indicators in the region.
Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive
This task is critical. Based on currently published estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and millions more are stillborn. That’s roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.
Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet global targets for improving maternal survival by 2030.
Listening to women and supporting families
Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth.
Health systems must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases and family planning.
The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all.
Campaign goals
Awareness raising
To raise awareness about gaps in maternal and newborn survival and the need to prioritize women’s longer-term well-being.
Effective investment
To advocate for effective investments that improve the health of women and babies.
Encourage support
To encourage collective action to support parents as well as health professionals who provide critical care.
Provide information
To provide useful health information relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
Key Messages
We can end preventable maternal and newborn mortality. WHO is calling for a massive intensification of efforts to ensure access to high quality respectful care for women and newborns, especially in the poorest countries and emergencies where most deaths occur.
Women's health needs extend beyond simply surviving childbirth. Women everywhere deserve support from health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs, including in the extended postpartum period when millions still lack critical care.
Access to sexual and reproductive health services underpin maternal outcomes and women’s ability to plan their lives and health – agency and empowerment for women and girls is a fundamental ‘missing piece’ for tackling maternal mortality and achieving health for all.
Investing in all aspects of maternal and newborn health brings immense benefits for families, communities and societies, addresses some key health disparities, and adds years and love to life for billions of women and their families around the world.
Inspiring stories
Events
When: Monday, 7 April 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Washington DC or EDT)
Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, English, Portuguese and French
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Washington DC or EDT)
Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, English, Portuguese and French
