By Ajileye Alfred
On World Health Day, let’s remember that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a luxury.” – Ban Ki-moon.
To understand the significance of this day, let’s look back at its origins. In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its first World Health Assembly. The World Health Assembly can be described as the Parliament of the WHO. This forum governs the organization and is responsible for passing resolutions that guide international health policies. During that inaugural assembly, it was decided that April 7 each year would be observed as World Health Day, starting in 1950, to raise awareness about global health issues. Fifty-three member states participated in that first assembly. Currently, there are 194 member states.
For every World Health Day, a theme is selected to highlight key global health issues and promote actions to address them. The theme typically reflects emerging challenges, ongoing health trends, or specific public health priorities that require urgent global attention. A significant one was the 2020 theme “Support Nurses and Midwives”. In 2020, the global health community was grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and nurses and midwives were at the forefront of the response. This theme emphasized the importance of ensuring that they had the necessary resources, training, and working conditions to continue providing quality care. It also aimed to advocate for better support for their well-being, as they were particularly vulnerable to burnout and faced the physical and emotional challenges posed by the pandemic.
This year’s theme is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” which centers on improving maternal and new-born health. This initiative aims to encourage governments and the global health community to intensify efforts to eliminate preventable maternal and new-born deaths and to prioritize the long-term health and well-being of women. Sub-Saharan Africa experiences a disproportionate share of maternal and neonatal deaths. The region has the highest numbers of these deaths globally, with significant disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. A 2023 report by the WHO revealed that Nigeria ranks just behind India in maternal and infant mortality rates. The report indicates that maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria have stagnated since 2015, with approximately 290,000 maternal deaths occurring annually. Data from UNICEF shows that between 2000 and 2019, Nigeria experienced a 15 percent increase in the number of stillbirths, with an estimated total of 171,428 stillbirths reported in 2019.
Given these alarming statistics, Nigeria can leverage this year’s World Health Day theme by expanding access to maternal healthcare, launching awareness campaigns, providing free or subsidized maternal care, engaging the private sector, and strengthening emergency response systems to reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths. The focus should be on engaging awareness initiatives, meaningful discussions, and effective implementation strategies to drive lasting improvements in maternal and child health.
The Honorable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, introduced the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative, which has led to various policies and projects targeting maternal health. An example is the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project, launched in November 2024, the project focuses on combating high maternal and neonatal mortality rates by strengthening primary healthcare, increasing skilled birth attendance, and engaging community stakeholders such as Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to improve maternal health outcomes. With a $1.2 billion investment, the SWAp initiative aims to enhance healthcare resource allocation and service delivery, ensuring equitable access to quality maternal and child healthcare.
As we observe World Health Day under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” we are reminded of the responsibility to safeguard the health and dignity of every woman and new-born. In Nigeria, where a staggering one in seven global maternal deaths occur, the urgency for transformative action is undeniable. The persistent challenges, ranging from inadequate healthcare infrastructure and financial barriers to deeply ingrained cultural practices, demand a unified and unwavering commitment from all sectors of society. By embracing comprehensive healthcare reforms, ensuring equitable access to quality services, and fostering a culture that prioritizes women’s health, we can pave the way for a future where every mother and child thrives. This World Health Day, let us reaffirm our dedication to making this vision a reality, honoring the intrinsic right to health that belongs to all.
REFERENCE
World Health Organization. (1948). First World Health Assembly, Geneva 24 June to 24 July 1948: plenary meetings: verbatim records: main committees: summary of resolutions and decisions. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/85592
World Health Organization. (2020). Support Nurses and Midwives. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-health-day/world-health-day-2020
2023 WHO Report on Nigeria’s Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates: World Health Organization. (2023). Trends in maternal mortality estimates 2000 to 2020: Nigeria. World Health Organization. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/gho-documents/maternal-health-countries/maternal_health_nga_en.pdf
Maternal Mortality Statistics in Nigeria:World Bank. (2020). Number of maternal deaths – Nigeria. World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MMR.DTHS?locations=NG
Launch of the MAMII Project: Abujah, R. (2024, November 7). FG Launches MAMII Project To Combat Alarming Maternal Mortality Rates. Science Nigeria. https://sciencenigeria.com/fg-launches-mamii-project-to-combat-alarming-maternal-mortality-rates/
Maternal Health Challenges in Nigeria:UNICEF Nigeria. (2019). Situation of women and children in Nigeria. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/situation-women-and-children-nigeria
Maternal Mortality Ratio in Nigeria:UNICEF. (2015). Under-five, infant, neonatal and maternal mortality rates. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/1636/file/Nigeria-equity-profile-health.pdf.pdf
