This World Health Day, on 7 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) is kicking off a year-long campaign calling for immediate and decisive actions to ensure that each and every mother and baby receives the care they deserve. The “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” campaign urges countries to renew their commitment to ensuring good-quality healthcare for every mother and every newborn.
In commemorating World Health Day 2025, Malaysia leverages this opportunity to highlight the country’s achievements in improving the health of mothers and babies, and its continued commitment towards ensuring every woman has access to the comprehensive care she needs during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond, while also safeguarding the health and well-being of newborns.
The maternal mortality ratio is a key indicator that tracks how many women die during pregnancy and during or after childbirth, which serves as a crucial measure of women’s health and how well our healthcare systems support access and quality care for mothers. Malaysia has made significant strides in improving maternal healthcare,
According to Malaysia’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022, 98.1% of pregnant women have at least four antenatal visits. Importantly, more than 3 in 4 start these visits at the right time which is during their first trimester, and nearly all give birth in a health facility. Maternal mortality in Malaysia has decreased markedly, decreasing from 210 deaths per 100 000 live births in 1963 to 26 deaths per 100 000 in 2022.
Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore believes that while this is remarkable progress, we should be striving to further reduce maternal mortality in Malaysia. “We have the power to change this. WHO is committed to working together with our partners and the Government of Malaysia for not just better access to care, but a transformation in the quality of healthcare that women and newborns receive.”
Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth. In Malaysia, maternal and newborn health remain at the forefront of public health priorities. Despite significant progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates, challenges remain with growing risks arising from non-communicable diseases prior to pregnancy. Strengthening the life course of a girl from birth through her life and improving access to quality healthcare are important as we work towards improving women's health. “As we approach this important day, it is vital to remember that healthy mothers and babies are the foundation for thriving societies,” he added
Malaysia was one of the first countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region to be certified as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in 2018. Malaysia continues to strengthen maternal healthcare with new initiatives planned in 2025 and beyond, focusing on both physical and mental well-being. These include Tdap vaccination for pregnant women to protect newborns from pertussis, and universal Hepatitis B screening for enabling early detection and treatment to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
Malaysia remains committed to enhancing maternal and child health by ensuring adequate nutrition. There has been a reduction in anaemia among pregnant mothers from 29.3% (NHMS 2016) to 19.3% (NHMS 2022).
Malaysia has also developed the Child Health 2021-2030 national framework to reduce under-five mortality and promote healthy child development with a strong emphasis on the first 1,000 days of life. This framework addresses the prevention of infant deaths; promotes healthy growth with proper nutrition; as well as enhances collaboration with families, communities and other sectors to improve safety, education and healthcare access.
The Minister of Health Malaysia, Honourable Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad shared “The Ministry of Health Malaysia’s vision is clear: every mother and baby deserve the best possible start in life. This is the core of our 'Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures' campaign. We are committed to a collaborative effort with WHO and relevant stakeholders, to address preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Furthermore, we are dedicated to prioritising women's long-term health and well-being, ensuring 'health for all' through the inclusive spirit under the government’s ‘Malaysia MADANI’ framework.”
World Health Day 2025 serves as a pivotal moment to unite the world around a common goal to prioritise maternal and newborn health. “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” aims to inspire global action to lay the foundation for healthier, more prosperous societies by reducing preventable deaths. This can be achieved by investing in quality healthcare, better nutrition, skilled professionals, maternal education and robust healthcare systems for the future of our communities and nations.
Media contact:
Varun Chaudhary
chaudharyv@who.int; +60122109738