Every year on April 7, World Health Day commemorates the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. But more than a symbolic date, it is a brazen call to tackle pressing global health challenges. In 2025, the focus has shifted toward an issue central to human development and survival—maternal and newborn health.This year’s theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” isn’t just a slogan—it signals the beginning of a year-long WHO-led campaign that prioritizes the well-being of mothers and babies. In a world where nearly 300,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes and over 2 million newborns don't survive their first month, the message is loud and clear: we must act now.Mothers' and babies' health isn't a women's issue—it's a global, family, and community issue. A healthy start in life is the foundation for future prosperity and health. If a mother lives through childbirth, if her newborn baby survives that critical neonatal period, the ripple effect reverberates out to the rest of society. Healthy children grow up with their mothers, which builds healthier communities and economies.However, the global data is still grim. WHO estimates suggest that one preventable maternal or newborn death occurs every 7 seconds. Worse, 4 out of 5 nations are off track to achieve maternal survival goals by 2030, and 1 in 3 are at risk of failing to meet newborn death reduction targets.What Does 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures' Mean?The WHO's campaign in 2025 will be aimed at preventing not just deaths but also making health systems more robust, pushing for equity, and providing women and newborns with quality care before, during, and after birth.Important goals of this year's campaign are:To advocate for eliminating preventable newborn and maternal deathsTo push for equitable access to quality care, particularly in rural and under-served areasBuilding postnatal care infrastructure, especially within the first 24 hours following childbirth—the time when the majority of maternal and newborn deaths are most likely to happenFacilitating mental health and noncommunicable disease care during the perinatal periodFostering inclusive laws and policies that protect women's health and rightsUnderstanding the ChallengesConsider India, for instance—a country that has progressed incredibly but continues to have mountainous challenges to overcome. India's maternal mortality ratio fell from 130 to 97 per 100,000 live births between 2014 and 2020. Yet the country still has 17% of all stillbirths and maternal deaths worldwide, a stark reminder of how much there is to be done.In rural and disadvantaged communities, the availability of healthcare workers, postnatal care facilities, and emergency obstetric care remains very limited. A great number of infant deaths are due to preventable conditions such as sepsis, birth asphyxia, and conditions arising from preterm birth. Socioeconomic inequalities worsen these conditions, with women in poorer families frequently having no access to even basic maternal care.What Needs to Change?Enhancing newborn and maternal health is more than constructing hospitals—it's a matter of envisioning healthcare delivery systems that are sustainable, equitable, and women-focused.That means:Increasing antenatal and postnatal care coverage to at least 80% as recommended by the WHOTraining and mobilizing skilled birth attendants in underserved areasEstablishing mother-supportive environments, such as clean water, adequate sanitation, and nutrition accessSynchronizing mental health services with maternity careSecuring policy-level protection by way of maternity benefits, parental leave, and anti-discrimination lawsFurthermore, health systems should also be in a position to handle indirect determinants of maternal death, like hypertension, diabetes, and mental illnesses, which are all underdiagnosed.India's Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and National Health Mission (NHM) have played a significant role in providing free monthly check-ups and institutional births. Programs such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) offer incentives to poor mothers to deliver safely. Internationally, some areas such as Latin America and the Caribbean have already achieved WHO's goal of postpartum care coverage of 80%—serves as models that can be followed and replicated.This year's theme also acknowledges that health is not born in clinics. It is a result of underlying human rights—education, decent shelter, wholesome food, clean air, and protection from violence and discrimination.Policies that make women economically and socially empowered are as essential as policies for medical care. Whether legal protections for maternal leave or investing in girl child education, each move makes a difference to healthier generations.Listening to Women, Supporting FamiliesAt the center of this campaign is a crucial message—listen to women. Women require care that is respectful, compassionate, and inclusive. That means acknowledging the role of partners and families, supporting fathers, and providing community-based solutions that are responsive to cultural and socioeconomic settings.Healthcare professionals, policymakers, and world leaders need to make listening to women's voices a priority, learn from their experiences, and co-create solutions that are effective on the ground.As World Health Day 2025 unfolds, it calls on all of us—governments, health workers, communities, and individuals—to pledge ourselves to the health and dignity of mothers and newborns. Because when we invest in healthy beginnings, we create hopeful futures—not only for individuals, but for generations to come.