SDG target acceleration, Resolution on maternal, newborn and child health & SRHR in the spotlight at WHO Executive Board

With only six years left to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), progress remains off-track in reducing maternal mortality (SDG 3.1) and child mortality (SDG 3.2). Accordingly, at the 154^th Executive Board (EB) meeting of the World Health Organization, 22^nd-27^th January 2024, Member States took note of the WHO Director General’s report on Acceleration towards the Sustainable Development Goal targets for maternal health and child mortality. The report highlights that 46 countries are projected to have a ratio greater than 140 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, more than double the level set by target 3.1. 63 countries are off track to meet the target for newborn mortality by 2030 and 54 countries are off track to meet the under-5 mortality target by 2030.

In response, Somalia has initiated a World Health Assembly resolution to highlight gaps and agree on the needs to increase coverage of key interventions to save lives of pregnant women, newborns, and children. The current draft decision on  Accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2, co-sponsored by Egypt, Ethiopia, Paraguay, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania, was presented for discussion at the WHO 154^th EB, following four rounds of informal consultations.

During the EB meeting, Member States intervened on the content of the report and the draft decision proposed by Somalia and the co-sponsors. The recorded session is available here.

Overall, Member States expressed widespread support on the need to accelerate progress to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, including through the implementation of strategies such as Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) and Child Survival Action (CSA), multipronged approaches and increased investments. Several Member States flagged the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights in advancing maternal, newborn and adolescent health, including the need to promote comprehensive sexual education, access to reproductive health services and family planning, especially for adolescents. Addressing gender inequalities is crucial, necessitating the provision of essential services to women and girls, supporting women’s education, and preventing gender-based violence. Many countries also highlighted the need to strengthen healthcare systems, with a focus on increasing access to medical equipment and improving quality of services, enhancing workforce capabilities, particularly midwives and community health workers, and shifting towards a Primary Health Care approach. Addressing inequities in access to MNCH services, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and in already humanitarian and fragile settings, was also raised.

Sixteen Member States, including on behalf of the African region (AFRO), Eastern Mediterranean region (EMRO) and 8 Nordic and Baltic States, expressed their thanks to Somalia for their leadership in putting forward the draft decision and their support to the resolution, to be proposed at the 77^th World Health Assembly in May 2024.

During a separate item at the EB, as the board considered additions to those listed as being in “Official Relations” with WHO, the intervention by The Russian Federation, on behalf of 10 non-EB member states (Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Palestine)  urged the EB to reconsider granting the  Center for Reproductive Rights such status. In its intervention (Session 13, timestamp: 43:57), the Russian Federation flagged the polarizing nature of reproductive and sexual rights in the international sphere and the danger of setting precedent in which WHO is seen to be promoting the interests of only selected groups within states, while disregarding the concern of others. Partner statements issued by Women in Global Health, Global Health Council and Health Policy Watch in response to this intervention solidifies the call to uphold sexual and reproductive health and rights globally as a foundation to the health and well-being of women and girls.

Several PMNCH members in official relations with WHO also intervened during the EB to convey their support for the issues. Full member statements can be accessed here:

• International Baby Food Action Network
• International Federation of Medical Students' Associations
• International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation
• International Planned Parenthood Federation
• Medicines for Malaria Venture
• The Save the Children Fund

For an overview of which issues were raised in Member State interventions, PMNCH has produced a tracking document.

Further consultations on the draft resolution are expected to resume in February.