Agenda Item 14: Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health
This statement was delivered by the World Heart Federation at the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board
Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
We thank the Director-General for the report, highlighting both progress and gaps in efforts to implement the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide, and is in fact the number one killer of women. Detection and multidisciplinary care across the life course, with key intervention points before, during, and after pregnancy, is essential. We welcome the inclusion of implementation guidance on Rheumatic heart disease, a neglected CVD primarily affecting women and children, in the report. Unfortunately, women are often unaware that they have RHD or CVD until pregnancy, and significant challenges remain.
Standardized, comprehensive CVD care embedded in UHC packages and PHC programmes is crucial for reducing women’s morbidity and mortality, and while global guidelines for cardiovascular care during pregnancy exist, there is need to address gaps in availability, access, and contextual relevance of policies.
