In celebration of World Health Day and the commencement of the 58th Commission on Population and Development (CPD58), the governments of the Netherlands and South Africa are co-sponsoring an event focused on improving maternal and newborn health. The event will take place on 7 April 2025 from 13:15 to 14:30 at the UN Secretariat in New York City.
Organized in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP), and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), the event will highlight the 2025-26 World Health Day theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” This theme emphasizes the urgent need to improve maternal and newborn health and builds upon the commitments made at the 78th World Health Assembly to accelerate progress on reducing maternal, child, and newborn mortality rates.
The event will also focus on the launch of new global maternal mortality estimates, further underscoring the importance of universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services. It will explore how such services, including family planning and reproductive health education, are essential for reducing maternal mortality and fulfilling international commitments like those outlined in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The discussion will present evidence showing that prioritizing women’s health—holistically before, during, and beyond the reproductive years—is key to a healthier, more equitable world. In particular, it will emphasize that achieving maternal, newborn, and child survival targets cannot be done without ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive health services, integrated into national strategies and programs.
In the context of a changing global geopolitical landscape that challenges multilateralism and the role of science in health policy, this event will share data and showcase solutions aimed at promoting health and well-being at every stage of life.
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