In observance of World Health Day 2025, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett has urged member states to intensify efforts to provide universal access to quality maternal healthcare across the region. Her call comes as the Caribbean Community celebrates progress in reducing maternal and child mortality rates but acknowledges the need for further action to ensure equitable healthcare for all mothers and newborns.

World Health Day 2025 is being marked under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” which spotlights maternal and newborn health while emphasizing the longer-term well-being of women. Dr. Barnett highlighted that the Caribbean has made significant strides in improving health outcomes for mothers and children, including reducing neonatal and under-five mortality rates to align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. In 2022, these rates stood at 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and 18 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively.

Additionally, several CARICOM member states have achieved certification for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis under the EMTCT initiative. These achievements have been attributed to partnerships like the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), which has played a critical role in advancing maternal healthcare in the region.

Despite these successes, Dr. Barnett stressed that much work remains to be done. She called on stakeholders to address key risk factors affecting women during pregnancy, including socioeconomic status, education, ethnicity, and geographical location. She emphasized that reducing maternal mortality to below 70 per 100,000 live births—a global SDG target—is within reach if collective action is taken.

Dr. Barnett also underscored the importance of continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, antenatal and postnatal care services, community health initiatives, and workforce development to support maternal and child health services. Empowering women through education on reproductive rights was highlighted as a cornerstone for creating healthier futures for families across the region.

The Secretary-General acknowledged challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disruptions but noted that lessons learned from these experiences should serve as motivation for safeguarding future generations. CARICOM remains committed to working with ministries of health, regional nursing bodies, and development partners to advance maternal and child healthcare initiatives.

In March 2025, CARICOM supported a new Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) initiative aimed at eliminating key diseases affecting maternal and child health. This project focuses on strengthening leadership within maternal health services, improving diagnostic capabilities, and enhancing surveillance systems across the region.

Dr. Barnett concluded her message by reaffirming CARICOM’s dedication to achieving SDG Goal 3—ending preventable deaths of mothers and children—and called on governments and healthcare workers to continue creating pathways toward a future where every mother and child thrives. World Health Day serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maternal healthcare in building resilient communities throughout the Caribbean.