Celebrate World Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures

World Health Day 2025: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”

Dhaka, 7–8 April 2025 — This year, World Health Day was observed globally with the powerful theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," emphasizing the vital importance of maternal and newborn health as the cornerstone of a healthy society. The message is clear: By investing in the well-being of mothers and babies, we lay the groundwork for stronger families, more resilient communities, and a healthier future for all.

The 2025 celebration also marked the launch of a year-long global campaign aimed at ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths while advancing women’s long-term health and well-being. The significance of this initiative resonates deeply, especially across the WHO South-East Asia Region, where remarkable progress has been made in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) over the past two decades.

Bangladesh’s Commitment and Achievements

Bangladesh has emerged as a leader in the region's health transformation. From 2003 to 2023, the country reduced its maternal mortality ratio from 376 to 136 per 100,000 live births. Neonatal mortality has dropped to 20 per 1,000 live births, and under-five mortality to 33. These improvements have been supported by expanded access to antenatal care, with 88% of women receiving care from skill birth attendant providers by 2022. Additionally, over 50% of women are now using modern contraceptives, child immunization coverage has reached 84%, and stunting among children under five has fallen to 24%.

National and Divisional Celebrations

In Bangladesh, World Health Day 2025 was celebrated with enthusiasm at both the national and divisional levels on 7 and 8 April. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), events were held across the country with strong government engagement.

Participants are in WR’s town hall meeting. Photo Credit: Salma Sultana/WHO

At the divisional and district levels: with the technical support of WHO, civil surgeons and local health authorities actively organized and participated in a range of activities, including rallies, technical presentations, discussion sessions, and public awareness events. These gatherings successfully brought attention to maternal and newborn health in communities across the nation.

WR’s delivered his speech in the town hall.  Photo: Salma Sultana/WHO

The national-level celebration was equally vibrant. A town hall event was hosted at the WHO Bangladesh Country Office, drawing participation from staff across sub-offices and divisional branches. At the town hall meeting, WHO Representative Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed stated, “A healthy beginning is the key to a hopeful future. By investing in maternal and newborn health and strengthening our health systems, we can build resilient communities and a prosperous nation.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of universal access to quality care, strengthening health systems, reducing disparities, and promoting community engagement to ensure the well-being of mothers and newborns.

Key recommended actions include improving care during childbirth and the first week of life, ensuring skilled care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postnatal period, and implementing community-based health interventions, Dr Jamsheed added. The event featured a comprehensive presentation by the Team Lead of the RMNCAH team, which delved into the current landscape of maternal and child health in Bangladesh. A dynamic Q&A session followed, fostering dialogue and engagement among staff. An informative quiz competition was also conducted, and awards were presented to the winners in recognition of their participation.

Adding a celebratory note to the proceedings, the WHO office was decorated festively, and staff gathered for a cake-cutting ceremony and group photos, reinforcing the spirit of unity and shared purpose.

Looking Ahead

World Health Day 2025 served as both a celebration of progress and a call to action. As the year-long campaign to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths begins, Bangladesh’s continued dedication to improving MNCH outcomes will be vital. The commitment demonstrated by healthcare providers, government institutions, and international partners underscores a collective vision: that every mother and every baby deserve a healthy start and a hopeful future.

The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of a healthy society. By prioritizing maternal and newborn health, we can ensure hopeful futures for generations to come. The significance of maternal and newborn health has never been more apparent.

Group photo. Photo: Salma Sultana/WHO

For more information on this publication, please contact Salma Sultana, ssultana@who.int