World Health Day 2025: ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures' Lebanon reaffirms maternal health as a national priority
This year's commemoration, held under the patronage of Minister of Public Health Dr Rakan Nassereldine, convened national and international stakeholders under the theme Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures. The theme is a powerful reminder that a healthy, thriving society begins with the protection of mothers and children, and that the survival of the next generation depends on the strength of our health systems today.
WHO Representative in Lebanon Dr Abdinasir Abubakar and Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Lebanon Mrs Alessandra Viezzer both underscored the urgency of building inclusive and equitable health systems during the event.
Globally, maternal and newborn mortality figures are alarmingly high, with nearly 400 000 stillbirths and 500 000 newborn deaths recorded each year. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, newborn deaths account for nearly 60% of under-5 mortality, with some countries reporting maternal mortality ratios as high as 600 per 100 000 live births – in stark contrast to the global target of 70 per 100 000 by 2030. Lebanon has made notable strides, achieving a 38% reduction in maternal mortality between 2000 and 2017. However, recent data indicates that progress is stalling. In 2023, Lebanon recorded 24 maternal deaths out of 93 697 deliveries.
Under-5 mortality rates in Lebanon increased significantly between 2018 and 2023. Neonatal deaths rose from 5.3 to 11.22 per 1000 live births, infant mortality climbed from 7.4 to 15.59, and under-5 mortality surged from 9.6 to 18.16. These setbacks are rooted in multiple crises. Prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted access to timely care; the sudden economic collapse and inflation in 2022 pushed health care beyond the reach of many, and structural challenges include limited intensive care capacity in peripheral areas. Sociocultural dynamics also play a role: early marriages among refugee populations and increasing pregnancies among older maternal ages contribute to poorer outcomes.
Health Minister Dr Rakan said 'The notion 'Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,' encapsulates the essence of our shared mission: to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to thrive from the very first breath, and that every woman experiences pregnancy and childbirth in safety, dignity, and with full access to the care she needs'.
Meanwhile, Mrs Alessandra Viezzer stated that 'The European Union has been a steady partner to Lebanon, especially in difficult times and moments of change. Today's celebration is also an opportunity to show our support for Lebanon's own vision of making health care available to everyone. We remain committed to standing by the country and its people, especially in keeping essential services like primary health care running. A stronger public health system is key to better health for all who live in Lebanon. It needs to be reliable, transparent, and focused on people's needs'.
Speaking at the event, Dr Abdinasir Abubakar stressed that WHO's commitment to Lebanon remains firm. He emphasized the need to raise awareness among pregnant women and their families, expand the training of health care workers, and continue strengthening the national health system to drive maternal and newborn mortality rates lower. 'Despite important strides in maternal health,' Dr Abubakar noted, 'the work must not stop here.'
In the face of adversity, Lebanon's health sector, with WHO's technical support and under the leadership of the MoPH, has demonstrated resilience. Over the past 3 years, WHO Lebanon Country Office has adopted a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach, addressing urgent needs while reinforcing long-term health system capacity. A key milestone has been the development of the National Health Strategy which outlines a clear vision for modernizing and rebuilding Lebanon's health sector with a focus on equity, quality and sustainability. The second-year review of this strategy has shown steady progress, documenting existing practices, identifying gaps and mapping out solutions.
WHO has played a pivotal role in Lebanon's cancer control efforts, supporting MoPH's development of the country's first national cancer control plan and participating in multiple national cancer committees. In 2024, Lebanon joined the Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer, with WHO supporting the provision of essential cancer medications to the most vulnerable patients.
There has been significant progress in the area of immunization. In 2024, WHO, in collaboration with MoPH and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), launched a national campaign to vaccinate children under 5 living in shelters against polio and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The campaign successfully reached 80% of targeted children across 879 shelters, significantly reducing the risk of outbreaks among displaced populations. Nonetheless, greater investment and efforts are needed to improve overall vaccination coverage and prevent major vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.
WHO's work has been instrumental in strengthening Lebanon's primary health care network, enabling the equitable provision of essential, people-centered services across the country. The number of MoPH-supported primary health care centres has grown to 317, addressing the rising demand for acute and chronic care driven by increased poverty, reduced purchasing power and medication shortages in the private sector.
Between 2018 and 2024, demand for primary health care services increased by 106%. The share of Lebanese patients accessing these services rose from 17% in 2017 to 55% in 2024, with nearly 2 million individuals served. WHO continues to secure chronic and acute medications for over 500 centres and dispensaries, benefitting more than 250 000 people of all nationalities, a critical lifeline in a system now almost entirely dependent on donor support.
WHO has supported 12 public hospitals, providing essential equipment and training to improve the quality of intensive care and emergency services. Building on previous emergency response trainings, WHO launched a national mass casualty capacity-building programme, training 5770 health care workers in emergency case management, mental health and de-escalation techniques. In parallel, the Organization distributed 240 trauma surgical kits and 10 000 blood bags, and covered hospitalization costs for more than 3000 patients suffering catastrophic illness. Over 7000 war wounded patients have benefited from the supplies and technical support provided by WHO to frontline hospitals.
WHO's support also enabled the activation of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in 2023. PHEOC has become central to Lebanon's emergency preparedness and response efforts, including during recent security escalations.
Additionally, WHO and UN partners collaborated with MoPH on an accelerator plan focused on advancing sexual and reproductive health through improved policies, capacity-building, quality assurance and community awareness.
WHO advocates and supports the use of digital technology to modernize the health information system and supply chain management and enhance accountability and transparency, and has contributed to the development of MoPH's vision for digital health transformation.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the continued collaboration of dedicated health sector partners and the generosity of donors. Their contributions have enabled Lebanon's health system to remain functional and responsive at a time of extraordinary national hardship.
As Lebanon marks World Health Day 2025, WHO calls on all partners, donors and stakeholders to maintain – and expand – their support to the health sector. The progress made is real but fragile. Maternal and newborn health must remain at the top of the national agenda. It is not just a public health necessity. It is the foundation on which peace, prosperity and social justice rests.
Now is the time to invest in every mother's safety, every child's chance at life and every family's hope for a healthier tomorrow. -- UNIC
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