World Health Day 2025: India marks progress in maternal and child health with key initiatives
World Health Day 2025, with WHO's theme «Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,» India continues to strengthen its healthcare systems through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission, marking significant progress in improving maternal and child health, expanding digital healthcare access, and enhancing public health infrastructure.
World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, underscores the importance of global health and calls for collective action to address pressing health challenges. Started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1950, it unites governments, institutions, and communities in addressing critical health priorities each year.
According to an official release, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made substantial strides in improving India's public health outcomes through various key initiatives and programs. The National Health Mission (NHM) has played a central role in this progress.
The release mentioned that the MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) in India dropped from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per 1,00,000 live births, a decline of 33 points.
«Over the last 30 years (1990-2020), MMR declined by 83% in India,» the release stated.
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It also highlighted that IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) dropped from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020) per 1,000 live births, NMR(Neonatal Mortality Rate) reduced from 26 (2014) to 20 (2020) per 1,000 live births and U5MR(Under-5 Mortality Rate) declined from 45 (2014) to 32 (2020) per 1,000 live births.
The government also took several initiatives for Maternal Health and Pregnant Women.
As per the release, Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) was conducted at facility and community levels to identify causes of maternal