On World Health Day, marked every year on 7 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for global action to ensure access to high-quality health care for women and babies.

Though there has been progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, the Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face significant challenges in ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborns, especially in fragile and emergency settings.

More than 120 million women of reproductive age live in the Region, and around 20 million newborns are delivered each year. But major obstacles remain in accessing maternal and reproductive health services.

In addition to almost 400 000 stillbirths a year, around half a million newborn lives are lost annually, accounting for nearly 60% of deaths among children under 5 in the Region. And while the 2030 global target is to reduce maternal mortality to 70 deaths/100 000 live births by 2030, maternal mortality ratios exceed 600 maternal deaths/100 000 live births in some countries in the Region.