Nassau, The Bahamas, 20 May 2025 — This year the world observed World Health Day 2025 under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, calling for investment in the early stages of life as a pathway to resilient health systems and stronger communities. In keeping with this theme, in May 2025, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) made a meaningful contribution to the maternal and child health efforts of The Bahamas with the donation of essential perinatal tools to the Maternal and Child Health Services of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
The following items were donated:
- 500 Fundal Symphysial Height Measuring Tapes
- 500 Neonatal Measuring Tapes
- 500 Pocket Gestograms
- 200 Fetal Stethoscopes
The donated items will be distributed to health facilities across the country and will enhance the ability of healthcare providers to track fetal growth and gestational age, monitor maternal health throughout pregnancy, assess newborns immediately after birth and identify high-risk pregnancies and refer patients appropriately.
These simple but effective tools can have a profound impact as they are critical for routine maternal and newborn assessments, enabling early detection of complications and promoting safe pregnancy monitoring from antenatal visits through to delivery.
Healthy beginnings are the cornerstone of lifelong wellbeing. With these resources, we are helping frontline health workers in The Bahamas better support expectant mothers and newborns, especially in primary care and community settings.
By equipping healthcare workers with what they need to assess and respond to pregnancy and birth-related risks, PAHO/WHO and The Bahamas are working to ensure that every child has a healthy start and every mother a safe journey.
