In a powerful statement released to mark World Health Day 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the staggering statistics that highlight preventable maternal and newborn deaths worldwide. Each year, around 300,000 women lose their lives due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Also more than two million babies die within their first month of life.
In addition, another two million babies are stillborn. These figures translate to one preventable death every seven seconds. Underscoring the urgent need for action to improve healthcare for women and newborns globally.
The WHO’s findings show that, based on current trends. Four out of five countries are off-track to meet the targets set for improving maternal survival by 2030. Moreover, one in three countries will fail to meet goals aimed at reducing newborn deaths. The statistics are especially alarming in low-income countries, where limited access to quality healthcare exacerbates the issue.
To tackle this crisis, the WHO emphasizes the critical importance of high-quality healthcare. This includes comprehensive family planning, prenatal care, and skilled birth attendants. These interventions are proven to significantly reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates. Access to healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period is crucial for the health and survival of both mothers and babies.
To address these urgent challenges, the WHO has launched a year-long global campaign, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” Running throughout 2025, the campaign focuses on the need to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and ensure long-term health and well-being for women. The campaign calls for collective action from all sectors of society to prioritize maternal and newborn health, improve health systems, and ensure that effective policies and laws are in place to support women and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
WHO stresses the importance of evolving healthcare systems to better address the multifaceted needs of maternal and newborn care. This includes not only direct obstetric care but also addressing mental health issues, noncommunicable diseases, and providing comprehensive family planning services. Strengthening health systems to manage these complexities is essential for improving outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide.
The WHO campaign also encourages the global community to raise awareness about the existing gaps in maternal and newborn health. And to invest in health services that directly benefit women and babies. The organization calls for a renewed commitment to ensuring that all parents receive the necessary support from healthcare providers and society as a whole.
As World Health Day 2025 serves as a reminder of the challenges in maternal and newborn health. It is clear that urgent and sustained efforts are needed to save lives and improve health outcomes for women and babies around the world. With collective action, it is possible to reduce preventable deaths and provide hopeful futures for generations to come.
