The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced the theme of World Health Day 2025, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, which will focus on improving maternal and newborn health and survival.
World Health Day is marked around the world on 7th April, the anniversary of WHO's founding in 1948. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
"The focus of this campaign comes at a crucial moment, aiming to help countries regain lost progress while showcasing new research and evidence that will enhance the health of women and babies globally," said Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO. "As rollbacks to humanitarian assistance jeopardize a critical lifeline for millions, it will also be an opportunity to step up support and collaboration for global health - and deliver hope to those in urgent need of lifesaving care."
Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive
According to the most recent estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year; over 2 million babies die in their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn. This is roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds – losses which bring tremendous sadness and heartache to millions of families around the world.
While maternal and newborn deaths occur in all regions, the vast majority are in the poorest countries and those facing conflict and other crises. When health care facilities close, facilities are attacked, access routes denied or supplies disrupted, pregnant women and babies - who need regular access to health services - face severe, often life-threatening risks.
Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet the United Nations' global targets for improving maternal survival by 2030; 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths. Current funding constraints could further jeopardize progress, as many programmes providing critical health services have stalled alongside important medical research focused on pregnant and breastfeeding women and children.
This year's campaign, which will run until 2026, will urge governments, donors and the health community to invest in proven, high-impact interventions, as part of efforts to improve overall quality of care. These include pregnancy related services to detect complications and lifesaving emergency obstetrics – noting that the vast majority of maternal and newborn deaths happen during or shortly after birth – as well as special care for small and preterm babies. Complications relating to prematurity are now the leading cause of death of children under-5 worldwide.
WHO will also highlight the evolving need for health systems to address the many underlying health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These include not only direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, malnutrition (including under and overnutrition as well as nutritional deficiencies), and an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases.
Listening to women and supporting families
Moving beyond actions to save lives, the campaign will urge increased global attention to women's longer-term health and well-being. This includes advocating for laws and policies that safeguard their health and rights, such as paid maternity leave and other critical employment protections, and access to vital family planning services.
"It is not sufficient that women survive childbirth, they must also be able to enjoy their lives in good health," said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. "Women and girls everywhere need access to health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs, while ensuring they can plan their fertility, take charge of their futures, and protect their health."
Efforts are also needed to address the particular risks of climate change for pregnant women and newborns, as evidence shows an association between higher temperatures and preterm births, stillbirth, hypertension and gestational diabetes, as well as infant mortality.
An investment, not a cost
In low- and middle-income countries, every US$1 invested in maternal and newborn health is estimated to yield around US$9 to 20 in return. Evidence shows that spending on maternal and newborn health leads to economic development and happier, healthier societies.
Around the world, WHO is supporting essential maternal and newborn health programmes including through:
- Intensive support to 55 countries through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere initiative , which is working to expand access to lifesaving emergency obstetric and newborn care units, family planning and other critical services;
- Guidance relating to diverse aspects of maternal and newborn health through pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. New recommendations will be published later this year to help clinicians manage postpartum haemorrhage , one of the world's leading causes of maternal deaths, and noncommunicable diseases in pregnancy;
- Research to improve clinical care options for pregnant women and newborns, including during epidemics when it is critical to ensure high-risk populations are not left behind;
- Ensuring maternity and newborn care during humanitarian emergencies, like mobile clinics and health posts in Syria and Sudan, where millions of women and babies would otherwise miss out on lifesaving medical screenings, vaccinations and treatments.
- Support for health workers providing essential care to pregnant women and babies, such as efforts to strengthen the vital role of midwives within health systems through training, accreditation and related guidance.
Get involved
Here's what you can do to support the campaign
- Spread awareness: share information about the campaign using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll;
- Participate: attend our global events to learn more about what it will take to end maternal and newborn mortality; organize your own local activities;
- Donate: contribute to the WHO Foundation , which supports WHO's work to protect mothers and babies in countries around the world;
