Brazzaville – The African region has made progress in lowering maternal mortality since 2000 but needs a 12-fold increase in the annual reduction rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, new estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group show.

 Article by Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative to South Sudan
Juba - As we mark World Health Day 2025 under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” South Sudan stands at a defining moment in its pursuit of equitable health for all. Nowhere is the urgency more evident than in the area of maternal and newborn health, where mortality rates remain unacceptably high, and progress is hindered by persistent system-level gaps.

Pretoria - In the heart of Pretoria, at FF Ribeiro Clinic, two women, one a hopeful new mother, the other a dedicated midwife cross paths on a journey that reflects the strength, compassion, and challenges of maternal health care in South Africa.

On World Health day, Uganda reflects on progress, challenges, and collaborative strategies to reduce maternal and newborn mortality under the theme "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,".  This theme calls for intensified efforts by governments and communities to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and prioritize women’s long-term health.

On April 7th, WHO Zambia hosted a significant advocacy meeting at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel to commemorate World Health Day. This year’s theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” emphasizes the importance of maternal and newborn health and highlights the need for more investments in quality healthcare services to ensure a healthy start for mothers and their babies.

The event brought together policy makers, health care providers, advocates, and civil society organizations to discuss initiatives to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Zambia. 

The agony experienced by mothers during childbirth evokes sorrowful memories for Mrs. Atto Christine Lino, a midwife in South Sudan.

Sierra Leone – March 2025 – In a concerted effort to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B (Triple Elimination), Sierra Leone strengthened its healthcare workforce through targeted training of frontline health workers in Makeni and Bo. Held from March 10th to 14th, 2025, the training equipped healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver integrated EMTCT (Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission) services within maternal and child health (MCH) platforms.

Emergency preparedness and response are critical for global health security in an era of increasing public health threats. From pandemics to natural disasters, African nations face complex health emergencies requiring swift and coordinated responses. Recognizing the urgency of strengthening health security, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, and Dr. Abdou Salam, WHO Regional Emergency Director, conducted a high-level mission to Ethiopia from March 13 to 14, 2025.

Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), with financial support from the Global Fund, has handed vital medical supplies and two brand-new Toyota minibuses to the Ministry of Health (MOH), Sierra Leone worth USD 432,000 to strengthen the country's health system's capacity. This donation forms part of the WHO's World Health Days celebrations that will run year long. 

Apac, Uganda – Today, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and alliance partners, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH and CHAI rolled out a malaria vaccination campaign in Apac District, northern Uganda. This makes Uganda the 19th country in Africa to introduce the malaria vaccine into routine immunisation and it is the largest vaccine rollout to date in terms of target districts and population.