A new mural in Uzbekistan symbolizes shared responsibility for maternal and newborn well-being. The artwork, entitled “Sog’lom Kelajak” (Healthy Future) marks the culmination of the World Health Day 2025 campaign dedicated to improving maternal and newborn health globally: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”. It calls on governments, health systems and communities to work together to ensure that every woman and newborn receives respectful, high-quality care – before, during and after birth.
In Uzbekistan this message comes to life through the mural, which was painted on the wall of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Maternal and Child Health with support from the WHO County Office in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Health.
Each figure in the artwork forms part of a symbolic puzzle: a pregnant woman supported by her partner, a father taking an active role, a health-care provider listening with empathy, and a young daughter who represents the importance of birth spacing.
The composition reflects the importance of family support and building trust with health-care providers during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. It also reflects WHO’s recommendation to wait at least 24 months between pregnancies (approximately 33 months between births) to help improve health outcomes both for mothers and babies – an approach recognized by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan as an important step in improving family health.
Shared vision for healthy futures
“The health of mothers and children is one of the country’s key priorities,” said Dr Elmira Basitkhanova, Deputy Minister of Health of Uzbekistan. “Every family should understand the importance of comprehensive care for women during and after pregnancy, active support from partners and relatives, and birth spacing. By joining WHO’s campaign, Uzbekistan reaffirms its commitment to promoting healthy and happy families.”
The mural was inaugurated alongside a series of short awareness-raising videos developed by the WHO Country Office jointly with the WHO/Europe Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) unit in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and national partners.
The videos highlight key messages on partner-assisted birth, breastfeeding and nutrition, and danger signs during pregnancy. They feature health-care workers from the Republican Center for Maternal and Child Health and Polyclinic No. 7, as well as volunteer student actors from VGIK University in Tashkent, activists and influencers.
“Every healthy mother and baby is supported by a network of caring professionals who stand beside them at every stage,” said Dr Natalya Nadirkhanova, Director of the Republican Center for Maternal and Child Health. “Doctors, nurses and midwives combine skill, dedication and compassion to ensure that women feel safe, heard and supported – not only medically, but emotionally as well. We are proud to contribute to this campaign.”
Dr Asheena Khalakdina, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Uzbekistan, added, “Maternal and child health is at the heart of WHO’s global mission. The ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ campaign in Uzbekistan shows how collaboration among the health sector, creative professionals and young artists can turn important public health messages into visual stories that resonate with people.”
Dr Khalakdina concluded, “Together, these efforts aim to inspire communities to support every woman through a healthy pregnancy and give every child a hopeful start in life.”
No mother or child left behind
The mural also reflects WHO’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health as part of its broader global work and under Presidential Decree No. PP–296 of September 2023, which sets out a national vision for maternal and child health.
Together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with support from the Ishonch Fund, WHO is helping to implement a comprehensive maternal and perinatal care programme across the country.
Over the past 2 years, WHO has supported the Ministry of Health in updating 31 national clinical protocols (25 in obstetrics/gynaecology and 6 in neonatal care) in line with WHO recommendations, and in integrating them into medical curricula. They are currently being applied through ongoing capacity-building efforts to enhance service delivery and improve clinical practice. Over 200 trainers will be disseminating this knowledge across the country.
Laboratory systems are also being strengthened nationwide, with reinforced biosecurity, biosafety and quality management capacities. WHO helped train over 70 laboratory professionals across Uzbekistan on how to improve the accuracy and reliability of medical test results. The training focused on international quality standards, how to check results for errors and how to run regular internal reviews. These efforts were supported by expert mentoring and led to the creation of a national team to develop one shared guide for managing quality in all medical laboratories.
These joint efforts move Uzbekistan closer to a future where no mother or child is left behind, no matter where they live.
About the artists and contributors
The mural was painted by the Masterskaya Art Team, led by artists Zulfiya Spowart and Delya Khaydarova. The videos feature:
- specialists from the Republican Center for Maternal and Child Health (Gulchexra Usmanova and Gulrux Po‘latova);
- specialists from Polyclinic No. 7 (Izatbi Muxidinova and Feruza Kholniyozova);
- student actors from VGIK University in Tashkent (Nodir Ukliyev, Samira Toxtiyeva and Anna Muravyeva);
- influencers (Madina Muminova, a grandmother, author of a children’s books series and founder of a children’s eco‑movement; Asal Saparbayeva, an athlete and content creator; Madina Muminova, a mother of 2 and model; Shaxzoda Pirova, a mother of 5 and entrepreneur; and Rushana Mamadalieva, a mother of 2 and entrepreneur); and
- emergency medical service staff.