- Government dignitaries,
- Leaders of Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India
- Clinicians, Partners and Colleagues,
A good morning to you all.
The All India Conference of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is one of the largest and most influential gatherings of this field in the world. It reflects India’s leadership in women’s health and well-being across the life course, not just nationally, but across our WHO South-East Asia Region.
In recent years, India has made remarkable progress. The Maternal Mortality Ratio has reduced by more than 25% in six years. The Neonatal Mortality Rate has declined by approximately 16% from 2015 to 2021, and the Total Fertility Rate has reached 2.0 at the national level.
These achievements are more than just numbers. They show what is possible when political commitment, strong health systems, and clinical excellence come together. And they reflect your work, the doctors and healthcare professionals in this room.
However, I am sure you will all agree that our work is far from over.
Preventable maternal and newborn deaths still occur, and stark inequities persist at the sub-national level.
Cervical cancer, while preventable, remains a major cause of death among women around the world. Nearly a quarter of these deaths occur in India alone, an estimated 75,000 women annually.
The rapid expansion of self-care interventions offers new opportunities. However, it also requires robust guidance, safeguards, and provider engagement to ensure safety, equity, and informed choice.
Despite reaching replacement-level fertility, the demographics indicate that by 2035 India will have over 250 million women of reproductive age. This is as much a powerful demographic dividend as it is a significant responsibility for the health system.
The effects of a woman’s health are felt far beyond the person. Healthy women mean healthy families and productive societies. It means a stronger nation. Investing in women’s health is not just the right thing to do, it is smart nation building.
I appreciate and commend the Government of India’s strong commitment to “Sampoorna Swasthya” — the comprehensive, life-course based healthcare initiative for women that recognizes a woman’s health extends far beyond pregnancy and childbirth. This vision aligns closely with WHO’s emphasis on integrated, people-centred care, and—no doubt—resonates strongly with the leadership of all the professional bodies at this forum.
It is this common purpose that makes us proud as WHO to collaborate with AICOG.
As WHO, all three levels of our organization—country, regional, and headquarters—are unified in working with you on priorities that matter today:
- respectful and quality intrapartum care,
- reducing unnecessary interventions,
- expanding contraceptive choice,
- responding to demographic transitions,
- eliminating cervical cancer, and
- strengthening clinical practice through evidence-based guidelines.
These priorities are also drivers of the Sustainable Development Goals that all nations of the world are working towards.
How well we care for our women and girls, through adolescence, motherhood, and beyond, will determine the progress we make on health, gender equality, and equity.
I thank you all for the vital and important work that you do. We stand with you, fully committed to the health and wellbeing of women across India, and across our region.
I wish you a fruitful and productive conference and look forward all that we will continue to do together.
Thank you.