WHO in the Western Pacific calls for urgent action to save mothers and newborns

On World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for immediate and decisive action to ensure that every mother and every baby receives the care they deserve. WHO's year-long campaign, "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures" urges countries to renew their commitment to ensure good-quality health care for every mother and every newborn.

The maternal mortality ratio is a key indicator that tracks how many women die during pregnancy or childbirth, serving as a crucial measure of both women's health and how well health-care systems protect mothers. The Western Pacific Region has the second-lowest maternal mortality ratio among WHO's six regions globally. Estimates released today show that there has been progress in this indicator − for every 100 000 babies born in countries and areas of the Western Pacific in 2023, 35 mothers died. In 2010, 49 mothers died per 100 000 live births, indicating a 29% reduction in the past 13 years. However, despite this progress, too many families and communities still lose mothers and newborns to preventable causes.

"Pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of joy, but for some families and communities it ends in tragedy. The life of every mother and every newborn is precious, and we must do everything possible to save them," said Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "We have the power to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths in our Region. Every woman and every baby deserves the highest quality of care to ensure their survival and well-being."

According to Dr Piukala, this requires not just better access to care, but a transformation in the quality of health care that women and newborns receive, particularly in the most vulnerable communities.

Good-quality care is essential for maternal and newborn health

Most countries in the Western Pacific have made significant strides in increasing access to maternal and newborn care, with 98% of births now attended by skilled health personnel. These countries must now redouble their focus on improving the quality of this care.

Meanwhile, some countries and areas in the Western Pacific still struggle to provide even basic maternal health-care services, with limited access to skilled birth attendants and essential facilities. These countries require urgent support to build necessary maternal health-care infrastructure. In addition, efforts must be made to ensure that mothers feel safe and empowered.

"Every mother has the right to a positive and safe pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience," Dr Piukala emphasized. "This means creating environments where women are heard, respected and involved in decisions about their care. Simply surviving childbirth is not enough, we must ensure that mothers and babies thrive."

Empowering health workers and managers to drive change

Health workers, managers and authorities have the power to make significant changes to improve maternal and newborn health care. They should be encouraged to take proactive steps to ensure that every mother and every baby receives the highest quality of care.

Health workers need proper training and supplies so they can identify issues early, prevent infections and handle difficult situations confidently. They must also treat all patients with dignity, respect their choices and attend to the mental health needs of new parents.

Meanwhile, health authorities can support better-quality maternal health care by making sustained investments in safe and accessible maternal newborn care; supporting an enabling environment for health workers, such as safeguarding uninterrupted access to water and sanitation; and ensuring health facilities are well-stocked with essential medicines and supplies.

In addition, Dr Piukala emphasized the importance of collective action: "WHO has worked hard with governments and partners in the Region to make motherhood and the first month of life safer, and we're making progress. But we are not done yet - we must redouble efforts to ensure 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."

______________________________

For more information, please contact:
Communications Unit
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Email: wprocom@who.int