Key Points
- World Health Day 2025 is celebrated globally on April 7, marking the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.
- This year’s theme, ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’ emphasizes maternal and newborn health, aiming to reduce preventable deaths.
- Alarming statistics reveal over 300,000 maternal deaths, 2 million newborn deaths, and 2 million stillbirths annually.
- The campaign calls for improved prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to ensure healthier futures for mothers and infants.
World Health Day 2025 is observed today with the theme ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’ highlighting the urgent need to improve maternal and newborn health worldwide. The campaign aims to address preventable deaths among mothers and infants while promoting long-term well-being through better healthcare systems.
Theme and Objectives
The theme this year underscores the importance of a healthy start to life for both mothers and newborns. WHO has launched a year-long campaign urging governments, healthcare providers, and communities to prioritize maternal care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. The initiative seeks to reduce maternal mortality rates and neonatal deaths by ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
Maternal and Newborn Health Challenges
The statistics surrounding maternal and newborn health remain alarming:
- Nearly 300,000 women die annually due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
- Over 2 million newborns die within their first month of life, while another 2 million are stillborn.
- This equates to one preventable death every seven seconds globally.
Despite progress in reducing maternal mortality by 40% since 2000, disparities persist. Regions like Sub-Saharan Africa account for approximately 70% of global maternal deaths, followed by Central and Southern Asia at 17%.
Global Call to Action
The campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which aims to reduce global maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. WHO has urged nations to:
- Remove barriers to healthcare access.
- Strengthen primary healthcare systems.
- Provide equitable prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.
Countries like Sri Lanka have set an example by reducing maternal mortality rates through free healthcare services, professional midwifery training, and data-driven decision-making.
History of World Health Day
World Health Day originated from the first World Health Assembly held in Geneva in 1948, where the WHO was officially founded. The day has been celebrated annually since 1950 as a platform for addressing global health challenges. Each year focuses on a specific theme relevant to public health issues.
Significance of World Health Day
The observance aims to:
- Raise awareness about critical health issues.
- Promote disease prevention measures.
- Advocate for universal access to healthcare services.
- Encourage governments to implement effective health policies.
