April 06, Colombo (LNW): World Health Day is being observed today (April 07), marking a renewed global commitment to advancing public health and well-being.
The day serves as a key platform for raising awareness around critical health issues and promoting long-term solutions through international cooperation.
Established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Health Day aims to engage governments, institutions, and communities in collective efforts to foster healthier societies.
Each year, a theme is chosen to highlight a pressing issue within the global health agenda. For 2025, the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” underscores the need to prioritise maternal and child health as a foundational step towards broader societal progress.
In keeping with this year’s message, the WHO is calling on policymakers, healthcare providers, and civil society to intensify measures aimed at eliminating preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
The organisation has further emphasised the importance of supporting women’s health beyond childbirth, recognising that access to consistent, quality healthcare is essential not only for survival, but also for long-term empowerment and well-being.
Across the world, health authorities and development partners are hosting a range of programmes, from community outreach events and educational campaigns to free health screenings and medical clinics.
In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health has taken an active role in organising a series of commemorative events throughout the country. These include workshops, mobile health services, and public awareness drives designed to encourage early healthcare engagement, particularly among expectant mothers and young families.
Senior health officials have stressed the importance of viewing maternal and newborn health as a cornerstone of national development. They point out that better outcomes for mothers and babies contribute to stronger, more resilient communities in the long run, making it a strategic priority that transcends the health sector alone.
