GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – April 9, 2025 — On April 7, the world paused to recognize World Health Day—a global moment of reflection and renewal for our collective commitment to health. This year’s theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” brought into sharp focus an issue that affects everyone: maternal and newborn health.
The Ministry of Health, together with PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA, marked the day with an urgent call to action—emphasizing that behind every statistic lies a story, a family, a future.
Each year, more than 287,000 women die from preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Another 2.3 million newborns never make it past their first month. These are not just numbers. These are mothers who never get to hold their babies. These are babies who never get to see the world. These are lives that matter.
A Right, Not a Privilege
“Access to healthcare is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right,” said Dr. Frank Anthony, Guyana’s Minister of Health. “Our goal is to ensure that no one is left behind—not in our cities, not in our hinterlands. Every citizen deserves the care they need to live a healthy life.”
For too long, where a woman lives—or what she earns—has determined the quality of care she receives. In Guyana and across the Caribbean, many women still face long journeys to understaffed clinics, especially in remote communities. Emergencies during childbirth can become tragedies simply because help is too far away.
Investing in Life-Saving Care
With support from PAH/WHO and other global partners, Guyana has rolled out targeted programs like Zero Maternal Deaths from Haemorrhage, Obstetric Emergencies Training, and the ALARM (Advances in Labour and Risk Management) initiative. These efforts are not just improving hospital systems — they are saving lives.
“Early and consistent antenatal visits—at least eight during pregnancy—are critical,” said Dr. Kim Eva Dickson, PAHO/WHO Representative in Guyana. “Care must not stop after birth. The postpartum period is just as vital, too many women are left without the support they need after birth.”
This World Health Day, Dr. Kim Eva Dickson joined Dr. Frank Anthony and Mr. Adler Bynoe, in distributing care packages to antenatal and postnatal mothers, a small gesture with a powerful message: You matter. Your health matters. Your future matters.
Putting Equity into Action
Equity isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifeline. True healthcare equity includes:
- Strengthening mobile clinics and transportation
- Training and supporting midwives and community health workers
- Bringing care to indigenous and rural communities
- Making health services culturally respectful and compassionate
It means listening to women, trusting them, and placing their dignity and wellbeing at the heart of the system.
A Call for Commitment
This World Health Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that every mother deserves a safe birth. Every baby deserves a strong start. And every community deserves a healthcare system that serves them.
So, let’s commit together.
Let’s invest in systems that are strong, inclusive, and just.
Let’s turn pain into progress, and ensure that no woman dies whilst giving life, and no child is born into a world that won’t nourish and protect them.
Because a healthy beginning isn't just the start of one’s life, it's the foundation of a hopeful future.
