Tegucigalpa, Honduras. As part of the webinar “Commitment to the Lives of the Most Vulnerable Women: Reducing Maternal Mortality in the Americas”, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) renewed its call to accelerate actions to prevent maternal deaths, a key public health priority in the Region.
Held in commemoration of the International Day of Action for Women's Health, the event highlighted that maternal mortality remains the result of multiple structural factors, including poverty, gender inequality, limited access to health services, and the quality of care provided during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
In this context, participants emphasized that most maternal deaths are preventable and that strengthening health systems through a primary health care approach and comprehensive services is essential to protecting the lives of women, particularly those in situations of greatest vulnerability.
The high-level panel featured Dr. Ana Luiza Caldas, Secretary of Primary Health Care at Brazil’s Ministry of Health; Dr. Tatiana Lemus Pérez, Director of Health Promotion and Prevention at Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection; Dr. Gustavo Adolfo Batres of Guatemala; Dr. Eladio Pérez of the Dominican Republic; and Dr. Eduardo Midence, Honduras’ Vice Minister of Integrated Health Service Networks.
Progress in Honduras: Results That Demonstrate Advancement
During the regional exchange, the efforts of these countries were highlighted. Like Honduras, they have made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality in recent years..
The Vice Minister shared that, under the current administration, an obstetric emergency or a newborn requiring urgent care is treated as a national emergency, bringing together the health and emergency response systems, as well as the country's institutions, to ensure timely transportation to the nearest health facility with the capacity to provide the necessary care.
These advances are also linked to the implementation of strategies to improve the management of obstetric emergencies and the organization of health services. Key measures such as active surveillance, georeferencing, strengthening the Zero Maternal Deaths Teams, and preventing adolescent pregnancy have contributed to reducing preventable deaths and improving response capacity across the country.
At the same time, national authorities have prioritized maternal health by strengthening health services, expanding access to contraceptive methods, and coordinating intersectoral actions to address the inequities that affect women.
A Persistent Challenge with Effective Solutions
At the regional level, the webinar underscored that reducing maternal mortality requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both medical causes and the social determinants that affect access to and quality of care.
In this regard, PAHO continues to promote strategies that strengthen the early detection of risks, improve care during pregnancy and childbirth, and ensure timely, respectful, and barrier-free health services.
The event concluded with a call to redouble efforts to achieve the goal of zero preventable maternal deaths, advancing toward more equitable health systems that are centered on the needs of women, particularly those living in situations of greater vulnerability.
