By: Isra Chaker, CEO

The 78th World Health Assembly is a wrap—but the real work continues. We learned that the world has made progress: maternal and newborn deaths have declined. That matters. It tells us that change is possible!

But we cannot be satisfied with uneven progress. Too many women are still dying from causes that are preventable—especially those living through conflict, displacement, or crisis. A woman’s chance of surviving pregnancy should not depend where she lives.

We must go further—and faster. During this year’s World Health Assembly, I spoke with country and global leaders about what that means. These are my take-aways.

  • Align with country leadership and build with those who know what works (and what doesn’t)— partners should work alongside governments to invest in national strategies that are grounded in community realities. Effective maternal and newborn health interventions also center the leadership of trusted local organizations already delivering for mothers on the frontlines.
  • Finance with intention—raising and spending money needs to be both value driven and tactical. As our For Mama Campaign has shown, giving can bring together people from across faiths and communities. There is an opportunity for everyone to come together, united in our aim to give more to mothers and newborns. For these funds to deliver equitable impact, resources need to be channeled to where the need is greatest, scaling interventions proven to save lives.
  • Partner differently—bringing public, private, philanthropic, and grassroots actors together behind one shared goal is essential to ensure innovative progress reaches mothers in challenging contexts.
  • Prioritize a holistic approach – we need to maximize health system resources and enhance outcomes by responding to communities’ diverse needs and desires – including by improving local infrastructure, bolstering the health workforce and access to essential commodities, and increasing access to rights-based and culturally-informed care

Throughout WHA, the term “catalytic” echoed across panels and events, but what does this mean? At Every Pregnancy, we believe that diverse partnerships, driven by a shared mission to impact lives, have the power to disrupt existing systems and deliver sustained change. We combine grassroots generosity with global philanthropic power —matching faith-inspired giving with institutional funds and delivering through community-based partners. This drives impact—and ownership.

As WHA78 ends, let’s carry this momentum forward with clarity and conviction. We know what works. We know where to act. Now it’s time to deliver—for every mama, every baby, everywhere.