In commemoration of the World Correctly being Day 2025 on 7 April 2025, the Kingdom of Eswatini joined global companions in launching a One year-lengthy advertising and marketing and marketing campaign below the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, calling for renewed commitment to waste preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
The national commemoration brought together policymakers, health professionals, civil society, UN businesses, authorities officials, and teenagers, reflecting a collective vision for safer pregnancies and extra healthy newborns.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Correctly being, Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula, shared the country’s development in lowering maternal mortality. Over the final decade, maternal deaths within the country bask in declined dramatically—from 593 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012 to 240 per 100 000 live births in 2020, with an additional decline in institutional maternal mortality from 140 to 75 per 100 000 live births in 2024.
About ninety nine% of pregnant females assist now no longer now no longer as much as one ANC consult with. Statistics show that handiest 5% assist the instructed 8 ANC visits, and correct 43% start ANC within the foremost trimester, limiting alternatives for early detection of considerations. Extra, 93% of mothers carry in health companies and products attended by professional health personnel. Alternatively, house deliveries restful happen at 6% nationally.
Despite this development, the payment of decline in maternal deaths has currently plateaued. Preventable causes such as postpartum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) and being pregnant-brought about hypertension (PIH) proceed to power maternal deaths.
“These gains are a testament to improved quality of care in our health companies and products. Alternatively, the work is much from over,” acknowledged Minister Matsebula. “We must proceed to scale up fetch admission to to quality health care and make sure no girl dies whereas giving existence.”
Meanwhile, Eswatini’s neonatal mortality payment for the time being stands at 23 per 1 000 live births, impartial below the regional average of 27/1 000. Most neonatal deaths happen all around the foremost week of existence, primarily ensuing from prematurity (over 50%, birth asphyxia (18%) and malnutrition (16%), indicating the necessity for improved quality in antenatal and offer companies and products.
World Correctly being Group (WHO) Marketing consultant in Eswatini, Dr Susan Tembo, says these figures show that Eswatini continues to face significant challenges in lowering maternal and neonatal mortality. She reiterated that the focal point of this advertising and marketing and marketing campaign on mothers and infants highlights the urgent need for comprehensive improvements in maternal and neonatal care to effectively decrease mortality charges. “We must never overlook that each maternal loss of life is a tragedy, and the shortcoming of each newborn existence is a profound loss for our nation,” she acknowledged.
Encouragingly, the country’s funding in neonatal care has yielded outcomes. The contemporary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), established in 2019, has very much reduced mortality charges amongst admitted newborns—at the same time as referrals lengthen.
WHO’s call to Action
Dr. Tembo emphasized that maternal and neonatal deaths ought to be all people’s industry. “We must make investments in maternal and newborn health—now no longer correct on yarn of it’s a accurate imperative, but on yarn of it strengthens families, economies, and worldwide locations.”
WHO calls on all stakeholders—governments, donors, civil society, and communities—to:
1. Give a boost to foremost healthcare programs, especially around childbirth.
2. Amplify fetch admission to to professional personnel, supplies, and infrastructure.
3. Prioritize emergency care, newborn toughen, and apply-up companies and products.
4. Empower families and community scientific examiners.
5. Urge efforts to meet SDG targets and end preventable deaths.
