World Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginning, Hopeful Futures

Prof. (Dr) Karuna Hazarika

(drkaruna97@gmail.com)

World Health Day is observed globally on April 7 every year. It is an initiative led by the WHO to emphasise the importance of health challenges and also to advocate for the healthcare issues. Simultaneously, the day is marked as the foundation day of WHO since 1948, and it’s a landmark day in global health care.

Every year there happens to be a theme to celebrate World Health Day with a specific aim to achieve globally. This year’s theme for World Health Day 2025, “Healthy Beginning, Hopeful Futures,” focuses on the health and well-being of expectant mothers and newborns. Its main aim is to bring to the fore the critical need to ensure high-quality healthcare for mothers and children and to especially reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths worldwide.

This theme holds special relevance for India, as the country has made notable progress in improving maternal and child health. However, challenges persist, especially in rural and marginalised communities. India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has dropped from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014–15 to 97 in 2018–2020. This reflects significant improvements. Yet, the country is still struggling to control over 17% of global stillbirths and maternal and neonatal deaths.

Neonatal mortality rates remain on the higher side and are still troubling, with many deaths resulting from preventable conditions like infections and complications during childbirth. Access to essential healthcare services continues to be a great hurdle in remote areas, where health infrastructure is vulnerable and weak. There is a shortage of skilled professionals. In addition to this, socioeconomic inequalities influence both the use of maternal health services and health outcomes.

As we know, postnatal care is vital, especially for small and sick newborns, but many areas lack the basic infrastructure to provide it. The first 24 hours after delivery are the riskiest hours, during which 40% of neonatal deaths and nearly half of all maternal deaths occur. Ensuring proper nutrition and health education for women is also essential, as they play a vital role in supporting both the mother and child’s well-being. Only regions like Latin America and the Caribbean have reached the WHO’s projected target of 80% coverage for postpartum care.

To achieve the goal, India has implemented several targeted programmes, especially to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The National Health Mission (NHM) takes a holistic approach to Reproductive, Maternal, Infant, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), etc., with specific strategies addressing all stages of life. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) targets pregnant women to ensure free antenatal check-ups on the 9th of every month for quality medical care. Moreover, the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) offers financial support in cash to low-income pregnant women to encourage institutional deliveries and promote emergency maternal healthcare services countrywide.

The theme “Healthy Beginning, Hopeful Futures” is not merely about healthcare access for the mother and child —it’s about empowering the entire community for preventive healthcare, early intervention, and long-term and also sustainable solutions. It also helps to emphasise the importance of fundamental rights for everyone, including access to clean air, safe water, nutritious food, adequate housing, education, and a discrimination-free social environment.

It is crucial to recognise the progress made till today, while observing the World Health Day 2025 to identify the challenges that remain and to renew the commitment ensuring that every mother and every newborn receives the adequate care, dignity, and support they deserve. It is imperative to observe that a healthy beginning lays the foundation for a hopeful, thriving future—for individuals, families, and the nation as a whole.

The government has taken adequate steps to minimise out-of-pocket medical expenses and enhance access to quality healthcare through Ayushman Bharat and also aims to provide comprehensive health services to economically weak populations, including pregnant women and newborns. While improving maternal health services remains a national top priority, especially through initiatives under the National Health Mission (NHM), which is focused on advancing women’s and children’s healthcare.  It is committed to promoting continuity of care along with strengthening the health systems to provide more responsive and integrated services. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), healthcare workers, and community-based organisations play a pivotal role in raising awareness, educating families, and connecting communities to effective healthcare.

For the safeguarding and improvement of maternal and neonatal health, the government must continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure programmes, ensuring the availability of essential medicines, trained staff, and fully equipped facilities. Strengthening primary healthcare centres to deliver comprehensive maternity and newborn services is one of the most priority segments in healthcare delivery. For managing high-risk cases, there is a pressing need to develop and upgrade Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) with adequately trained manpower. Additionally, continuing training and capacity-building programmes for medical professionals are also crucial.

Implementation of telemedicine and mobile medical units can help bridge the gap in healthcare delivery, especially in hard-to-reach regions. Promoting adequate health literacy through targeted education campaigns is an important component of healthcare. These programmes should reach both urban and rural populations, focusing on prenatal and postnatal care, hygiene, nutrition, and early interventions as well. Wide community participation through workshops, support groups, and local campaigns helps instill healthy habits and practices among the population.

Utilisation of media services and digital platforms can accelerate public engagement in all those programmes. Tools like mobile health apps offer expectant and new mothers guidance, reminders, and access to available services. The use of digital health records through ABHA apps, etc., enables real-time tracking of health indicators and facilitates timely interventions. Investment in modern medical technologies can significantly elevate the quality of healthcare provided to mothers and infants.

To achieve sustainable improvements in all sectors requires strong policy support and adequate advocacy efforts. Policies must support maternity leave, workplace safety, breastfeeding, and accessible healthcare for the needy and must be enforced strictly, particularly for underprivileged communities. Need to enhance the collaborative action between government bodies, NGOs, and international partners to address systematic healthcare challenges.

While addressing social determinants of health—such as poverty, education, and gender inequality—is critical to reducing disparities in adequate health outcomes. Educating and empowering women and girls enables them to make informed choices and adopt affordable, healthier lifestyles. A comprehensive, multi-pronged approach is the vital component for improving maternal and newborn health in India. This includes expanding healthcare infrastructure, improving service access, promoting awareness and education, embracing innovation and technology, enforcing supportive policies, and tackling underlying social issues. Together, these efforts can definitely secure a healthier future for mothers and children across the country.