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Every year on April 7th, the global community observes World Health Day, commemorating the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. This day serves as a platform to spotlight pressing health issues and mobilize collective action worldwide. In 2025, the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” underscores a year-long campaign dedicated to enhancing maternal and newborn health. This initiative urges governments and health organizations to intensify efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and to prioritize the long-term health and well-being of mothers and their infants.
The Urgency of Maternal and Newborn Health
Maternal and newborn health remains a critical concern globally. According to WHO, approximately 300,000 women die annually due to pregnancy or childbirth complications. Additionally, over 2 million babies succumb within their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn. This equates to roughly one preventable death every seven seconds. Alarmingly, current trends indicate that 80% of countries are off track to meet the 2030 targets for improving maternal survival, and one in three nations will fail to achieve the goals for reducing newborn deaths.
The 2025 World Health Day theme aligns closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
This goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. A key target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
Empowering women and ensuring their rights, including access to quality reproductive health services, is vital for achieving gender equality and improving maternal health outcomes.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes is essential to ensure that all mothers and newborns, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, receive quality care.
WHO’s Campaign Objectives
The “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” campaign focuses on several key objectives:
1. Raising Awareness
Highlighting gaps in maternal and newborn survival, and emphasizing the need to prioritize women’s long-term well-being.
2. Advocating for Effective Investment
Encouraging investments that enhance the health of women and babies, recognizing that every dollar invested yields significant returns in human capital and economic development.
3. Encouraging Support
Promoting collective action to support parents and health professionals who provide critical care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
4. Providing Information
Disseminating useful health information related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care to empower women and families.
WHO offers a range of resources and initiatives to support maternal and newborn health:
Free Online Courses
The WHO Academy provides free courses on topics such as infection prevention in maternal care, respectful maternity care, and oral health for pregnant women and newborns.
Campaign Materials
WHO has developed various campaign assets, including communication toolkits, to help disseminate messages promoting maternal and newborn health.
Improving maternal and newborn health requires a concerted effort from governments, health organizations, communities, and individuals. Investing in quality healthcare services, empowering women through education and resources, and addressing social determinants of health are crucial steps toward ensuring healthy beginnings and hopeful futures for all.
As we observe World Health Day 2025, let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of mothers and newborns worldwide. By working together, we can create a future where every mother and child has the opportunity to thrive.
By: Touska Gholami
