World Health Day 2025: Prioritizing Maternal and Newborn Health

World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7th April as it marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. This year, World Health Day will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign titled ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’ urges Government and stakeholders to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. 

Focus on women’s long-term health and well-being 

According to WHO data, 300,000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year and over 2 million babies die in their first month and around 2 million more are stillborn. These huge numbers make it extremely difficult for Nations to achieve the UN target for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for MMR (maternal mortality rate) at 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030. 

Similarly, SDG Target 3.2 aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age and reduce neonatal mortality and under-5 mortality by 2030. According to the Global Health Repository, the number of under-five deaths worldwide was 4.9 million in 2022, a historic low. However, survival gains have stalled since 205 and many countries will fall short of meeting their targets for neonatal mortality. 

The Indian story 

India is committed to achieving the SDG targets and has seen its MMR reduce from 130 per 100,00 live births in 2014-16 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20. Some states in India like Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka have already achieved the SDG target of 70 per 100,000 live births. 

The National Health Mission (NHM) has played a crucial role in reducing the number of maternal and infant deaths through its Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy. Some of its key programs are: 

• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):

Under this scheme, women can avail free antenatal care on the 9th day of every month. More than 60,059,021 pregnant women have been examined and taken care of under this scheme. 

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK):

JSY, launched in 2005 is aimed at promoting institutional delivery among women, especially those from weaker socio-economic status. This is supplemented by JSSK, which was launched in 2011 to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women and sick infants. 

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

This maternity benefit program by the Ministry of Women and Child Development entitles women to a benefit of Rs. 5000/- for the first living child of the family subject to fulfilment of conditionalities. Till date, more that 3.90 crores beneficiaries have been paid Rs. 17,984 crores under this scheme. 

• Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) 

Launched in 2019, the scheme aims to provide Assured, dignified and respectful delivery of quality healthcare services at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services to any woman and newborn visiting a public health facility to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. 

The Indian Government has also focused heavily on strengthening its infrastructure through Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) services, developing delivery points, functionalization of First Referral Units (FRUs) and setting up Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wings to handle these cases. However, there is a need for continued effort and also ensuring more regional equality if the country as a whole has to achieve lower maternal, infant and neonatal mortality rates 

Maternal mortality is a key health indicator for a country as maternal deaths are largely preventable and treatable. Health systems across the globe must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. The health of mothers and babies are the foundation of a healthy family and community, ensuring a hopeful future for all.