Indigenous community, Guatemala
Strengthening health systems and communities
WHO is committed to ensuring universal health coverage for reproductive, maternal, and newborn health care. This requires improvements in health systems for women and newborns.
Policy dialogues with key stakeholders, assessing and improving quality of care, implementing maternal and perinatal death surveillance, and investment in midwifery education are some of the ways that WHO supports countries to strengthen their health system.
In monitoring progress, WHO recognises that efforts to grow strong health systems must also respond to external forces including climate change, migration and humanitarian crises. These factors contribute to health complications and must be considered when political commitments and financial investments are made to improve maternal health.