On World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for urgent action to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and ensure that every mother and baby not only survive but thrive. This year’s theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, is a reminder that health starts at birth and must be protected throughout life.

To mark the day, stakeholders gathered at Baitambogwe Health Center III in Mayuge District to launch a year-long campaign focused on improving maternal and newborn health. The campaign urges governments, partners, and key stakeholders in Uganda and globally to intensify efforts to strengthen maternal and child health.

The campaign will leverage both media and social media to raise awareness among communities, health workers, and authorities, while sharing information on best practices that sustain and scale up gains. It also places a strong emphasis on advocacy for increased resources leading to stronger economies and healthier societies.

“Over the years, the Government has progressively increased the allocation to health and continues to promote high-impact interventions towards ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” said Dr Charles Olaro, the Acting Direxctor General of Health services at the Ministry of Health.

As part of ongoing efforts to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) in the Busoga region, WHO, with funding from the Government of the Republic of Korea through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is implementing a five-year initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Health. This initiative focuses on building local leadership and delivering high-impact interventions, including lifesaving care during and after birth, midwifery support, adolescent sexual and reproductive health education, and facility refurbishment.

The event brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, district teams, and partners to reflect on progress, address challenges, and explore future opportunities.

“Uganda has made commendable progress over the last decade, achieving a 49% reduction in maternal mortality and a 19% reduction in neonatal mortality,” said Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative to Uganda. “This success has been driven by targeted interventions guided by national policies such as the RMNCAH Sharpened Plan.”

Still, maternal and newborn deaths remain alarmingly high. Most maternal deaths occur during childbirth or shortly after, primarily from hemorrhage, infection, or hypertensive disorders, all of which are preventable with timely, quality care. Newborns are at greatest risk in their first days of life, with birth asphyxia, prematurity, and sepsis as leading causes.

Efforts to address these challenges include high-quality antenatal care, essential newborn care, early detection and management of conditions such as anemia, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes, and expanded access to quality family planning services.

The Ministry of Health is scaling up quality-of-care improvements, including early identification of high-risk pregnancies, digital tools to improve data use, and better accountability mechanisms. These are vital steps to ensure women and newborns get the care they need, when and where they need it.

Yet, barriers remain. In areas like Busoga, over half of women still give birth without skilled attendance. Uganda’s health workforce remains stretched, with only 1.55 health workers per 1,000 people, far below the WHO-recommended threshold. One in four adolescent girls aged 15- 19 becomes pregnant, often without access to reproductive health information or services.

To sustain and accelerate progress, increased domestic funding is critical. Women must be able to access care regardless of their location. Health workers need the tools, training, and support to provide safe deliveries and respectful maternity care. Additionally, tackling gender inequality and poverty is essential to safeguarding maternal and newborn health in the long term.

At the individual level, pregnant women are encouraged to attend at least eight health checks and to stay active, get vaccinated, and seek immediate care for warning signs like vaginal bleeding, changes in fetal movement, persistent headache, swelling, or pain.

Families are also encouraged to prepare for delivery in a health facility with a trained provider, and to continue care after birth. For newborns, key practices such as breastfeeding, proper cord care, hygiene, safe sleeping, and recognizing danger signs can make the difference between life and death.

On this World Health Day, WHO urges renewed commitment from all sectors to ensure every woman can give birth safely and every child can grow up healthy, with hope for the future. The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all.