Monrovia, April 7 -- This year, World Health Day is observed under the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures"" - a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and prioritize the long-term health and well-being of women and children.

Despite progress in recent decades, maternal and newborn deaths remain a critical challenge. Nearly 300 000 women die globally each year due to pregnancy or childbirth-related causes. In addition, 2.3 million babies die within their first month of life, and 1.9 million are stillborn - losses that are concentrated in low-income countries and fragile settings, primarily in the WHO African Region.

In our Region, 20 mothers and 120 newborns die every hou...