Message from Rajat Khosla, PMNCH Executive Director - April 2025

Dear PMNCH Members, 

As we close out April, I want to take a moment to reflect on recent developments across the global health landscape – a month marked by both progress and sobering realities for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. 

The impact of sustained funding cuts to global health is becoming alarmingly clear. New data from WHO highlights disruptions in access to essential health services in 70% of surveyed countries. The launch of the Trends in Maternal Mortality report confirmed that while some countries are making encouraging strides, too many women are still dying from preventable causes. The data remind us that equity must be at the core of our strategies. We are witnessing a plateau—and in some regions, a reversal—in key WCAH outcomes. This month also marked the release of the Countdown to 2030 Lancet Series, underscoring the importance of evidence-informed policy and renewed commitment from partners and countries alike.  

Amid these challenges, we also saw moments of hope - the launch of WHO’s new global campaign, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, which calls on all of us to recommit to prioritizing WCAH across health systems and policies.  Use our recently developed communications toolkit to support this campaign.  

We were pleased to see WCAH reflected at the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where PMNCH, joined WHO and the IPU in co-hosting a workshop for parliamentarians focusing on how beliefs and social norms  impact women’s health.  The IPU also established at this assembly a formal committee on health which will take forward WCAH-related conversations. 

April also saw the President of Senegal join the Global Leaders Network (GLN), strengthening the growing coalition of high-level champions for WCAH.  

While the 58th Commission on Population and Development (CPD) focused on the theme of “Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promoting Wellbeing for All at All Ages”,  PMNCH was disappointed to note its inability to adopt an outcome document despite central role that health plays in human development. 

Looking ahead to May, the 77th World Health Assembly presents critical opportunities to elevate WCAH within global health and development discussions. PMNCH will continue advocating for stronger political leadership, integrated approaches, and inclusive participation that centers the needs of women, children, and adolescents at the WHA among other fora. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment.