The World Health Organization (WHO) is using World Health Day to advocate for immediate action to ensure comprehensive care for mothers and newborns. Under its campaign titled “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” WHO is urging nations to reaffirm their commitment to providing quality healthcare to every mother and infant, emphasizing that maternal and newborn health is a critical indicator of successful healthcare systems.
Notably, the Western Pacific region has shown some progress, with maternal mortality rates significantly declining from 49 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 35 per 100,000 in 2023, representing a 29 percent decrease. However, WHO warns that many families still face the tragedy of losing mothers and newborns due to preventable conditions.
Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, stated, “Pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of joy, but for some families, it ends in tragedy. The life of every mother and every newborn is precious, and we must do everything we can to save them.” He highlighted the need for improved access to maternal healthcare and a transformation in the quality of services provided to address the most vulnerable communities.
While the region has made strides in ensuring that 98 percent of births are attended by skilled health personnel, there are still areas that struggle to offer even basic maternal health services. Dr. Piukala stressed that urgent support is needed to build necessary healthcare infrastructures to enable mothers to feel safe and empowered throughout their pregnancy and childbirth experiences.
Healthcare workers have a vital role in this mission, requiring ongoing training and supplies to effectively handle complications and uphold respect for patients’ choices. Additionally, health authorities are encouraged to invest in improving maternal health care systems by ensuring adequate resources and facilities are in place.
Dr. Piukala concluded with a call for collective action, highlighting progress made but emphasizing that there is still much work to be done. “We must continue to push for good-quality and safe maternal and newborn care across the Western Pacific. Every mother and every baby deserves a healthy beginning and a hopeful future,” he asserted.
This campaign and its initiatives showcase a collective commitment to enhancing maternal and infant health and provide a hopeful outlook for sustainable improvements in the healthcare systems of the Western Pacific region. As nations work together to address these pressing issues, there is optimism that greater investments in health infrastructure will yield healthier outcomes for mothers and newborns across the region.
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