In an unique interview with Kazinform Information Company correspondent Yerzhan Zhanibekov, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, sheds mild on the World Well being Group’s 2025 World Well being Day theme, ‘Wholesome Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’. Because the world turns its consideration to maternal and new child well being, Dr. Kluge discusses the pressing want to cut back preventable deaths amongst moms and infants, the central targets of this 12 months’s marketing campaign, and Kazakhstan’s spectacular strides in major well being care. He additionally elaborates on the brand new Nation Cooperation Technique, which is able to information WHO’s partnership with Kazakhstan within the years forward.
Dr. Kluge, the World Well being Group (WHO) has formally introduced the theme of World Well being Day 2025, ‘Wholesome beginnings, hopeful futures,‘ which is able to put deal with maternal and new child well being and survival. Why was this subject chosen for this 12 months, and what would be the principal instructions of the marketing campaign?
This theme stresses the pressing want to cut back maternal and new child deaths, which stay excessive, particularly in low-income nations and battle zones. The marketing campaign goals to assist nations regain misplaced progress and showcase new analysis and proof to boost the well being of ladies and infants globally.
Based on current international estimates, practically 300,000 ladies lose their lives as a result of being pregnant or childbirth every year; over 2 million infants die of their first month of life, and round 2 million extra are stillborn. That is roughly 1 preventable dying happens each 7 seconds – losses which deliver immense sorrow to households world wide.
As well as, the most recent European Well being Report estimates that just about 76,000 youngsters throughout the 53 Member States of the European Area die earlier than their fifth birthday yearly.
That’s why we’re launching the ‘Wholesome Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ marketing campaign at present, on World Well being Day. The principle targets of the marketing campaign embody urging governments, companions and the well being group to urgently shield the well being of latest and expectant moms. They’ll do that by strengthening pregnancy-related companies to detect issues early, lifesaving emergency obstetrics and specialised look after small and preterm infants. At a time of disaster in international well being funding, the marketing campaign can even emphasize the significance of stepping up assist and collaboration for international well being to ship hope to these in pressing want of lifesaving care.
WHO can even spotlight the numerous underlying well being points affecting maternal and new child well being. These embody not solely issues associated to being pregnant, labour or supply but additionally psychological well being situations, malnutrition, together with beneath and overnutrition in addition to dietary deficiencies. We can even spotlight the impacts of persistent illnesses like diabetes and most cancers on maternal well being.
You talked about the significance of psychological well being assist. These days, there may be rising recognition of the necessity for psychological well being assist for pregnant ladies and new moms. Might you elaborate on why that is so essential?
Psychological well being assist for pregnant ladies and new moms is crucial for a number of causes. Being pregnant and the postpartum interval are instances of serious bodily, emotional, and psychological modifications. With out compassionate assist, ladies might expertise heightened stress, nervousness, and even despair, which might negatively influence each their well being and the well being of their infants. Offering psychological well being assist throughout this important interval can enhance maternal well-being, improve mother-infant bonding, and contribute to raised long-term well being outcomes for each mom and little one.
Furthermore, it is essential to focus on that past medical companies, the assist of household and the encircling group performs a vital function in guaranteeing the psychological well-being of latest moms. The love, understanding, and encouragement from members of the family could make a big distinction in a mom’s capacity to deal with the challenges of being pregnant and early motherhood. This holistic method, combining skilled psychological well being companies with robust group assist, creates a nurturing setting the place each mom and little one can thrive.
Dr. Kluge, the Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs) embody targets for decreasing the maternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality ratio. Might you clarify how these indicators are evaluated globally. Moreover, WHO European Area presently engaged on the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2), does this plan additionally embody any associated targets for maternal well being?
Definitely. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is outlined because the variety of maternal deaths per 100,000 reside births inside a given time interval. This indicator displays the danger of dying related to being pregnant and childbirth. The neonatal mortality ratio (NMR) measures the variety of deaths of infants beneath 28 days of age per 1,000 reside births. Each indicators are essential for assessing the standard of maternal and new child healthcare.
Globally, these indicators are evaluated utilizing knowledge collected from nationwide well being techniques, surveys, and statistical fashions. The World Well being Group (WHO), together with different UN businesses, compiles and analyzes this knowledge to watch progress in the direction of the SDG targets.
Kazakhstan has made important progress in decreasing each maternal and neonatal mortality. Latest knowledge exhibits that your nation has achieved notable enhancements in maternal well being outcomes and the survival charges of newborns. Utilizing this chance, I want to congratulate Well being Minister Akmaral Alnazarova for these achievements, which mirror Kazakhstan’s deep political dedication to enhancing the well being and wellbeing of all Kazakhs, investing in healthcare companies, higher entry to expert start attendants, and all-inclusive maternal and little one well being programmes.
In fact, there may be at all times room for additional enchancment, and continued efforts are important to make sure even higher well being outcomes for moms and their infants, as a result of even one preventable dying is one too many.
Maternal and little one well being are important priorities for WHO/Europe and can kind part of our subsequent five-year technique which we’re presently co-creating with all 53 Member States of the WHO European Area, together with Kazakhstan. We additionally hope to undertake a brand new Wholesome Ageing technique, and naturally maternal and little one well being will probably be a vital element of that too. As well as, we intend to develop a landmark regional little one and adolescent well being technique to be adopted by Member States later this 12 months.
Kazakhstan has been acknowledged as a pacesetter in major well being care (PHC). What are the important thing elements behind this success?
Kazakhstan has made major well being care (PHC) a prime precedence, constructing on the foundations set by the Alma-Ata and Astana Declarations. The nation has led the way in which in creating team-based care fashions, utilizing digital well being instruments, and strengthening its healthcare workforce. By increasing PHC groups to incorporate nurses, social employees, and psychologists, Kazakhstan has made healthcare extra accessible and diminished the necessity for pricey hospital remedies.
A terrific instance of this success is the PHC Greatest Practices Centre in Esik, Almaty Area. Because of its Illness Administration Programme, hospitalizations for situations like hypertension, diabetes, and persistent coronary heart failure have dropped considerably—by ten instances! On a bigger scale, Kazakhstan has improved entry to important well being companies whereas easing monetary hardships for practically 1.6 million individuals.
Kazakhstan’s partnership with the WHO European Centre for PHC has helped drive main healthcare enhancements, gaining worldwide recognition. Since launching the WHO PHC Demonstration Platform in 2022, the nation has welcomed delegations from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and China, desperate to study from its expertise. Different nations need to Kazakhstan as a mannequin for shifting from a conventional medical method to a extra holistic, team-based system—one which prioritizes rural communities, considers social elements, and promotes healthcare reforms.
How is major well being care reform enhancing maternal and little one well being in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan’s major well being care (PHC) mannequin has performed a key function in decreasing maternal and little one mortality. In 2024, the nation achieved a historic low in maternal mortality, with a 12% lower, whereas toddler and neonatal mortality every dropped by 8.3%. This success comes from robust, lasting relationships between households and healthcare suppliers.
Household docs, group nurses, and home-visiting companies work collectively to supply steady, preventive care. As a substitute of focusing solely on medical wants, this sensible method additionally considers the psychological and social elements of household well being.
Group nurses make common residence visits, guiding moms on breastfeeding, vitamin, and vaccinations whereas additionally monitoring psychological well being and different elements affecting maternal and little one well-being. Because of this hands-on method, extra households can entry important healthcare, resulting in fewer maternal and little one deaths.
Social employees have additionally grow to be a part of PHC groups, guaranteeing susceptible households obtain each medical care and social assist. By addressing a household’s general well-being—not simply their instant medical wants—Kazakhstan has created a simpler and compassionate healthcare system that helps wholesome little one improvement.
WHO is about to signal a brand new Nation Cooperation Technique with Kazakhstan. Might you elaborate on this?
Each nation is exclusive, and each well being system has completely different alternatives and challenges. That’s why, along with Madam Minister Akmaral Alnazarova, I’m right here to signal the Nation Cooperation Technique (CCS) for Kazakhstan, 2026-2030. The CCS is essential for the long-standing cooperation between WHO and Kazakhstan as a result of it helps align WHO’s international well being targets with Kazakhstan’s particular wants and priorities, ensures that we offer tailor-made assist and use restricted assets effectively.
The CCS permits Kazakhstan’s successes in well being to be amplified throughout the European Area by selling the nation’s improvements to the world, showcasing its developments in every thing from digital well being, major healthcare, and the way it’s investing within the well being workforce. The CCS will assist place Kazakhstan as a pacesetter in sustainable and environment friendly healthcare options. Finally, Kazakhstan’s experiences can function a mannequin for different nations in search of to handle related challenges.
In his earlier interview with Kazinform Information Company Dr. Hans Kluge defined why investing in healthcare in Central Asia, together with Kazakhstan, is vitally important.