EU Statement - WHA78 - Item 13.9 – Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

European Union Statement  WHO 78 th World Health Assembly(19 May – 27 May 2025)________ Item 13.9 – Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health________  Geneva, 24 May 2025  WHO 78 th World Health Assembly Item 13.9 – Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health EU Statement  Chair,Director General,Excellencies,Colleagues, I am delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its 27 Member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina[*] and Georgia as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement. We are deeply concerned by the stagnation of maternal mortality rates, particularly in fragile or conflict-affected countries. Key measures should be taken to 1/ improve access to quality maternal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health-care services, 2/ invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers, 3/ strengthen health system. We must commit to the international framework on gender equality to achieve UHC. Reaching women, children and adolescents in vulnerable situations by promoting community-based and -led approaches is vital. We welcome the invaluable guidance and tools generated by the Secretariat to optimize outcomes for this global strategy. Three urgent actions must be prioritized: Expanding equitable access to healthcare products and services particularly to combat pre-eclampsia, post-partum hemorrhage, anemia, obstetric...