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Every Woman Every Newborn EverywherE
Healthy Futures

We work to harness evidence, track progress, and foster learning so that every pregnant woman, new mother and newborn has the best chance at survival and health, no matter where they are.

 © WHO/Gary Chong Studios – Faris Syazwan.
Ismaziah, a community nurse and midwife, assesses the child’s health and runs through the standard medical protocol checklist.

©WHO/Yoshi Shimizu.
Expectant mother in Sabang, Puerto Prinsesa, in 2017.

The issue

Every seven seconds, a woman or a baby dies due to complications in pregnancy, childbirth or the first few weeks after birth. Mortality declines have stalled since 2016 and funding diverted to other issues.

The action

We must and can reverse this trend even in the short time until 2030 and meet the global commitments for maternal and newborn survival and stillbirth reduction.

Global commitments for maternal and newborn health

World leaders have repeatedly committed to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirth:

  • Sustainable Development Goal 3, target 3.1: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030;  and target 3.2: end reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births.
  • The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030): roadmap for ending all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, and improving their overall health and well-being.
  • Resolution 77.5 for Acceleration towards the Sustainable  Development Goals Target for maternal newborn and child mortality (MNCH) adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly (2024).
©WHO. A woman, her newborn and a midwife at  Al Hilal Emirates Hospital in Rafah, Gaza, 2024.

The solution

Over 100 countries are showing us how. Their experience in adopting strategies to end preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths (Every Newborn Action Plan) and maternal deaths (Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality) in the past decade as well as the latest data call for six urgent actions:

©UNFPA.
Trained midwife John Chacha Mahiri examines Yvonne Nangira during a screening using portable ultrasound technology at Ntimaru Sub County Level 4 Hospital in Kehancha, Migori County, Kenya in June 2022. 

  • Raise the bar to match SDG commitments with investments. Strong leadership that is backed by adequate resources and strong partnerships drives progress for women and children.
  • Invest in all stages of the life course. All investments in the health of women and children build human capital, and contribute to long-term wellbeing, thereby reducing the overall burden on national health systems.
  • Make strategic choices about which health care package to prioritize, based on each country’s context and critical gaps.
  • Go local: Design, budget for and implement strategies and plans at the sub-national level, with women, families and communities engaged at every step, to account for the inequities accessing quality care within a country and ensuring local needs and priorities are met.
  • Prioritize, standardize and improve data to track and address coverage, equity and quality gaps.
  • Foster multistakeholder and multisectoral partnerships that bring together the private sector, professional bodies, communities, and allied health sectors.
©WHO/Ismail Taxta. WHO staff and Somali nurses at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu in May 2021.

In practice: more coverage for improved survival

The governments of these countries  – in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific –  show us that progress is possible and within reach and call for a stronger focus on equity and quality.

They are are working to meet bold coverage targets, known as the 90/90/80/80 targets , to expand access to high impact care interventions  during pregnancy and around the time of birth, and are tracking their progress.  Twenty-nine of these countries have taken further steps in 2023 and adopted  ‘maternal and newborn health acceleration plans’ to prioritise maternal and newborn survival and wellbeing and see faster progress.

0 %

of pregnant women receive at least four antenatal care visits

0 %

of women give birth with a skilled health worker present

0 %

of new mothers and their babies receive postnatal care within two days of birth

0 %

of districts have sick and small newborn care units and emergency obstetric care accessible for at least half of the population

Growing proportion of women who make their own informed and empowered decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. 

Achieve coverage targets

Improve maternal and newborn survival and reduce stillbirth

Meet the global mortality targets (SDGs)

News and events

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Every Woman Every Newborn EverywherE
Healthy Futures

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Photo © 2020 WHO / Tatiana Almeida
Midwives during WHO Head of Sub-Office Dr Kai von Harbou visit to Hope Field Hospital

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