World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and new born health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and new born deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being. WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health. Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive
This task is critical. Tragically, based on currently published estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. That’s roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.
Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030. 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing new born deaths.
Listening to women and supporting families
Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth.
Health systems must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and new born health. These not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases and family planning.
The health of mothers and babies in the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all.
For more information and how to get involved visit World Health Day 2025