“A mother’s health is a nation’s wealth. When women thrive, families flourish.” – Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA
Recently, the world paused to recognise World Health Day under the powerful theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” This theme resonates far beyond a single day—it marks the launch of a global, year-long call to action focused on maternal and newborn health. At its core lies a simple truth: when mothers and babies are healthy, communities prosper. When they are not, the cost—human, emotional and economic—is devastating.
READ ALSO: World Mental Health Day 2024: Mental Health at Work in Africa
Despite medical advances, the figures remain stark and sobering. Every seven seconds, the world loses a woman or a baby to a preventable cause linked to pregnancy, childbirth or the postnatal period. Each loss echoes through families, neighbourhoods and nations, robbing the future of its potential.
The Silent Crisis in Maternal and Newborn Health
Nearly 300,000 women die each year due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. More than 2 million babies die within the first month of life, with a further 2 million stillborn, many without ever taking a breath.
These are not just statistics. Behind each number is the story of a woman who never got to hold her child, a family shattered by grief, and a health system that failed to respond when it mattered most.
Even more concerning, four out of five countries are not on track to meet global targets for reducing maternal deaths by 2030, and one in three will miss targets for reducing newborn mortality. Without decisive action, the gap between those who survive and those who do not will continue to widen.
What Must Change? Listening, Learning and Leading
The road to healthy beginnings and hopeful futures starts by listening to women. Far too many report feeling ignored, dismissed or mistreated during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. We must move from systems that merely treat symptoms to those that support individuals, body, mind and spirit.
This means providing quality antenatal care, skilled support during labour, and comprehensive postnatal services, including mental health care, breastfeeding guidance and access to family planning. Women must be supported not only by healthcare providers but also by laws and policies that protect their rights and autonomy.
Investing in Mothers and Babies Is Investing in the Future
When a woman dies in childbirth, the loss ripples far beyond the immediate family—it fractures the development of her community. Children left without mothers face higher risks of poor health, malnutrition and dropping out of school. But when a mother is healthy and supported, her children thrive—and so does the economy.
According to the World Health Organization, every $1 invested in maternal and newborn health returns between $8 and $12 in improved health outcomes, economic productivity and societal wellbeing. That is not just sound health policy—it is sound economics.
A Global Call for Collective Action
This year’s World Health Day is more than a campaign. It is a collective call—to governments, healthcare systems, civil society and to each of us—to rise and act. The goal is to raise awareness, advocate for investments, support health workers and share life-saving information across every stage of maternal care.
Tools, Training and Technology
From telemedicine that bridges rural gaps to digital health records that help identify high-risk pregnancies, technology is reshaping maternal health. But no innovation matters without equity. Every tool must reach every woman—regardless of her income, location or language.
The Hope We Hold
There is hope. Around the world, midwives are saving lives with compassion and skill. Community health workers are overcoming barriers to reach families in the most remote corners. Mothers are raising their voices, sharing stories that change minds and policies. And young girls are daring to dream of safe births and strong families.
In Every Beginning, a Future
As the World Health Organization launches this vital year-long initiative, one message rings clear: we cannot build a hopeful future without healthy beginnings. It is time to listen, invest and transform. Let us all play our part in ensuring every mother survives, every baby thrives, and every family has the start they deserve.
