Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures: World Health Day 2025
World Health Day is celebrated annually on 7th April, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the World Health Organisation in 1948. In 2025, World Health Day focuses on ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’, a call to action for governments and the healthcare community to redouble efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and prioritise women’s long-term health and well-being.
The statistics on maternal and infant mortality are staggering. Nearly 300,000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth each year. Over 2 million babies die in the first month of life, and four out of five countries are off track to meet target maternal survival rates by 2030.
Investing in maternal and newborn health is not just a moral obligation—it is a fiscally responsible choice. Every $1 invested yields a return of up to $9 in economic and social benefits. The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health estimated that addressing maternal and infant health could generate up to $3.8 trillion in economic benefits by 2035, driven by improved health and productivity.
With households affected by maternal mortality spending around one-third of their per capita consumption on healthcare, targeted interventions to prevent maternal deaths could help break the cycle of poverty.
Maternal and Infant Mortality in Kenya
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of maternal and child mortality globally, accounting for around 70% of maternal deaths worldwide.
In Kenya, maternal and infant mortality rates remain a significant challenge. According to a USAID report on Preventing Child and Maternal Deaths (2024), Kenya ranks fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 594 deaths per 100,000 live births—far off track from the global 2030 target of 140 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Addressing these challenges in Kenya requires investment in resources and education, ensuring that women across the country have access to high-quality healthcare.
Over the last decade, targeted, low-cost interventions have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Innovations such as heat-stable Carbetocin for postpartum haemorrhage and Kangaroo Mother Care have driven positive change across the country.
Kangaroo Mother Care, in particular, has provided a lifesaving solution to premature birth, which accounts for 12% of all under-five mortality in Kenya. In settings where ventilators and incubators are often inaccessible, promoting and supporting skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby has been found to reduce the risk of hypothermia, infections, and improve long-term health outcomes.
The Haller Foundation’s Impact
The Haller Foundation supports women and children in rural Kenyan communities through a combination of education and healthcare provision. In 2024:
415 people attended family planning sessions, helping women make informed decisions about their futures.
44 women received antenatal care at Haller’s clinic.
2,190 immunisations were administered across a range of diseases.
With 31 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases each year, expanding access to immunisation is fundamental to improving long-term health outcomes.
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