World Health Day 2025: Maternal health progress masks deep global inequities

By World Economic Forum.

As the world marks World Health Day 2025 under the theme “Health and Healthcare Systems,” new data from the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a troubling truth: while global maternal mortality has dropped by 40% since 2000, many women, especially in fragile and conflict-affected countries, are still dying from preventable causes.

The UN’s latest report, Trends in Maternal Mortality: 2000 to 2023, estimates that 712 women die each day due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although progress has been made, particularly in Southeast Asia where maternal deaths have fallen by 53% since 2010, the burden remains high in countries with weak health systems. Nearly two-thirds of all maternal deaths occur in regions affected by conflict and displacement.

The WHO warns that deep inequalities continue to define the global health landscape. Displacement, underfunding, and lack of healthcare infrastructure prevent many women and girls from accessing essential services. In conflict-affected areas, women face an increased risk of gender-based violence and are often left without mental health support. Conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression are widespread among women and girls living in these settings, yet resources to address these issues remain scarce.

In response, the WHO has launched a campaign titled Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, aimed at accelerating action to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths. While most countries are not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, the WHO says progress is possible with sustained investment and inclusive policies.

In a related development, the WHO completed its first global test of a pandemic response system, involving over 15 countries and 20 health agencies. Known as *Exercise Polaris*, the two-day simulation tested how the new Global Health Emergency Corps would handle a fictional virus outbreak. Countries including Canada, Denmark, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia shared real-time data and strategies in a coordinated response.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the simulation proved that global coordination is vital. “No country can face the next pandemic alone,” he said. More than 350 experts from agencies including Africa CDC, UNICEF, and the IFRC took part in the simulation, which emphasized the importance of trust and collaboration in global health security.

Elsewhere in the health world, a measles outbreak in Texas has claimed the life of a second child, with over 500 confirmed cases statewide. In Europe and Central Asia, tuberculosis infections among children rose by 10% in 2023. A study from the U.S. has revealed that epithelial cells can generate neuron-like electrical signals after injury, potentially leading to advances in bioelectric healing technology. Meanwhile, another study has found that infants exposed to antibiotics shortly after birth have weaker immune responses to vaccines.

In the UK, doctors are reporting a resurgence of diseases linked to poverty, such as scabies and respiratory infections, often seen in overcrowded or poorly ventilated housing. According to a survey by the Royal College of Physicians, nearly half of doctors say social issues now account for at least half of their caseload.

In Africa, the WHO reports that oral diseases are on the rise. Around 42% of the population had untreated dental conditions in 2021, yet the region has the lowest number of oral health workers per capita—just one-sixth of the global average.

World Health Day 2025 serves as a reminder that while scientific progress and policy shifts have saved lives, equitable healthcare remains a distant goal for many. The world’s ability to protect and care for its most vulnerable populations will define the success of future health systems.