WHO Launches Global Campaign to Improve Maternal and Newborn Health
Geneva, Friday, 25 April 2025.
The World Health Organization has initiated a vital campaign targeting a reduction in maternal mortality and newborn morbidity worldwide by 2030.
Global Health Disparities and Campaign Launch
On April 24, 2025, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of addressing maternal health disparities, stating that ‘We have the knowledge and tools to prevent most maternal deaths, yet they continue to occur’ [1]. The campaign emerges against a stark backdrop of health inequities, with approximately 295,000 women dying from pregnancy-related causes in 2020 [1]. The initiative will implement comprehensive workshops and training sessions beginning July 2025, focusing on strengthening maternal care systems across various regions [1].
Regional Initiatives and Community Engagement
In the United States, targeted programs are already showing promising developments. The Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative launched the ‘Ask Me 5 Campaign’ on April 22, 2025, aimed at enhancing communication between healthcare providers and patients [2]. This initiative coincides with Black Maternal Health Week, which ran from April 11-17, 2025, addressing the critical disparities in maternal health outcomes [2]. Recent CDC data reveals these disparities starkly - Black women face a maternal mortality rate of 50.3 per 100,000 live births, compared to 14.5 for White women [3].
Mental Health Integration and Support Systems
A significant component of maternal health support has emerged through innovative private-sector partnerships. Willow Innovations, Inc. has committed to providing one million hours of maternal mental health support through their partnership with Canopie, running from April 21 to May 31, 2025 [4]. This initiative addresses a critical gap in maternal care, as one in five women experiences Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders during pregnancy and postpartum, yet only 15% receive treatment [4].
Preventive Measures and Future Outlook
WHO’s comprehensive approach includes new guidelines released on April 24, 2025, focusing on preventing adolescent pregnancies and improving girls’ health outcomes [5]. These guidelines emphasize the importance of ending child marriage and extending girls’ education, noting that comprehensive secondary education could reduce child marriages by up to two-thirds [5]. The organization is coordinating with governmental and non-governmental partners to enhance maternal care systems, with specific attention to regions showing the highest mortality rates [1].