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Each year, on 7 April, the world observes World Health Day. This year's campaign, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, emphasizes ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths and highlights the critical need for comprehensive women's healthcare.
Every 7 seconds, worldwide, a woman or newborn dies from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 300,000 women die due to pregnancy or childbirth each year while 2 million babies are stillborn and another 2 million do not survive their first month.
The dangers extend beyond childbirth emergencies. Non-communicable diseases and infections, such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB) create additional risks for mothers and newborns.
For example, women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than their HIV-negative counterparts. Pregnant women with HIV also face heightened vulnerability to active TB, which can trigger premature labor, intrauterine growth restriction (fetal development lags), and even death. Alarmingly, those co-infected with HIV and TB are 2.5 times more likely to transmit HIV to their babies.
However, significant progress has been achieved through comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies.
Belarus ranks 8th globally for lowest infant mortality rate. The country records 1.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.The UNICEF report released in New York on 20 February.
In 2016, Belarus became one of the first countries globally to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis— a milestone validated by WHO. By 2024, the nation’s success was evident: only one out of 134 babies born to HIV-positive mothers contracted the virus, keeping transmission rates below 1%. Since 2016, vertical HIV transmission has consistently remained below the critical 2% threshold.
This progress stems from three key factors: modern antiretroviral medications, regular medical monitoring, and comprehensive psychosocial support for expectant mothers. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has played an important role in strengthening Belarus's national HIV and TB response, ensuring women and newborns can access life-saving interventions.
Central to the success is antiretroviral therapy (ART), a combination of two or more drugs that suppress HIV replication. In 2024, with funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), UNDP procured essential medications— nevirapine, zidovudine, and lamivudine that prevent mother-to-child transmission. These efforts are reflected in the success stories of HIV-positive women delivering healthy babies.
Since 2023, the Minsk City Executive Committee’s initiative “Conscious Pregnancy. Happy Motherhood”, implemented by the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs (BelAU), has provided targeted assistance to HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers struggling with ART adherence.
Recognizing that social and logistical barriers often hinder treatment adherence, UNDP expanded its outreach in 2024, bringing medical and psychosocial support to HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women beyond Minsk. Cities like Vitebsk, Mogilev, and Bobruisk now host these critical services, ensuring no mother is left behind. Last year, 44 women enrolled in the program, receiving targeted care to safeguard their health and their children’s futures.
Since 2004, the Global Fund has been supporting national HIV and TB response programs in Belarus. Currently, UNDP in Belarus is one of the recipients of the Global Fund grant, assisting the Ministry of Health in procuring essential medications, medical equipment, and diagnostic materials.
Work on HIV/TB prevention and treatment are essential for improving maternal and infant health. Belarus's experience demonstrates that effective HIV/TB prevention and treatment require more than medical interventions alone. The integration of clinical services with psychosocial support has proven critical for ensuring long-term ART adherence and reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. This complex approach offers a replicable model for safeguarding maternal and infant health worldwide.
