Today is World Health Day

Today is World Health Day and this year’s theme is "Healthy beginnings, hopefuly futures".

Led by the World Health Organization , this campaign calls on governments and the global health community to step up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths - and to prioritise women’s longer-term health and well-being.

By spotlighting the connection between the conditions we’re born into and the lives we’re able to lead, it’s a powerful reminder that health is shaped long before illness begins - and that access to health-supporting environments is a human right.

Every year, nearly 300,000 women die due to pregnancy or childbirth, while over 2 million babies lose their lives within the first month. Many of these deaths are entirely preventable - with the right care, the right systems, and the right support in place.

This campaign is a call to action for governments, health systems, and communities to do more:
🔹 Provide clean water, safe housing, and accessible care
🔹 Prioritise high-quality maternal and newborn services
🔹 Listen to women and make healthcare work for real lives

Through clinical trials, we contribute to the development of safer, evidence-based treatments that support lifelong health. At vctc, we’re especially committed to ensuring women are represented in research, and that their specific health needs are better understood.

Read more on why women’s health must be part of the conversation.

Support access to care through donation.

If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a baby or partner during childbirth, please know you are not alone. There is help and support available:

💛 The Lullaby Trust
🩵 Sands
🩷 Tommy's
💜 MMHA