On World Health Day, observed on 7 April 2025, the World Council of Churches (WCC) began the day with a morning prayer at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. The prayer focused on this year’s theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” emphasizing the vital importance of the health of mothers and babies as a foundation for healthy families and communities.
Reflection by Dr. Birgitta Rubenson
Dr. Birgitta Rubenson, a pioneering figure in the WCC’s work on health and healing, especially in relation to HIV and AIDS, offered a reflection during the service. Dr. Rubenson was instrumental in the WCC’s early efforts on HIV awareness, particularly during the 1980s when the disease was first emerging. She authored the WCC’s first publication on AIDS, “What is AIDS: A Manual for Health Workers” (1987), which helped provide critical education during a time when misinformation and prejudice about the disease were rampant.
In her reflection, Rubenson recalled the challenges faced by the church in addressing the crisis, including the lack of knowledge about the disease and the stigmatization of those affected, especially in marginalized communities. She noted that at the time, the focus often shifted away from addressing the real risks, such as those associated with sexual behavior, in favor of discussing more palatable issues, like concerns over the minimal risk of HIV transmission through the Eucharist.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Rubenson highlighted the progress made in managing HIV with medication today and emphasized that the issues of inclusion, exclusion, ecclesiology, and the church’s role in society remain highly relevant.
Challenges in Maternal and Child Health
Dr. Manoj Kurian, Director of the WCC Commission on Health and Healing, further emphasized the ongoing global health crisis. He pointed out that despite significant advances in science and technology, 300,000 women still die each year due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, and more than 2 million babies die in their first month of life.
Dr. Kurian also noted the severe disparity in access to healthcare, with half of the world’s population unable to access essential health services. At the same time, there has been a troubling decline in international cooperation, with reductions in health and development aid and humanitarian support.
Call to Action
In light of these challenges, Dr. Kurian urged the church to prayerfully mobilize and contribute to building healing communities, beginning with personal lives, families, and congregations. He called for advocacy with government representatives to increase funding and action on critical health issues, including climate change and social justice.
Ecumenical Prayer Cycle
In addition to focusing on health issues, the WCC’s Ecumenical Prayer Cycle also lifted up the people and churches of the Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia, praying for peace, unity, and healing in the region.
World Health Day in 2025 thus served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action for continued efforts in improving global health, particularly for mothers and babies, and addressing the systemic challenges that continue to affect vulnerable populations worldwide.
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