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.
Photo © 2023 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
Photo © 2017 WHO/Yoshi Shimizu:
Expectant mother in Sabang, Puerto Prinsesa
The issue
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).
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:
Photo © 2023 WHO: World Health Organization (WHO) Iraq communication team visit
to Al-Alwiya Hospital in Baghdad on the occasion of International Midwives Day.
- 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.
In practice: more coverage for improved survival
The governments of these countries (link to page ‘High burden 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.
Photo © 2021 WHO / Ismail Taxta
WHO staff and Somali nurses at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu.
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.
90%
of pregnant women receive at least four antenatal care visits
90%
of women give birth with a skilled health worker present
80%
of new mothers and their babies receive postnatal care within two days of birth
80%
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
The Midwifery Accelerator: Expanding Quality Care for Women and Newborns
Webinar: Launch of the WHO technical guide on measuring and monitoring quality of care to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services
Accelerating Action for maternal, newborn and child health: Developing Africa’s advocacy action plan
Resources