On April 7, World Health Day kicks off a year-long global campaign centered on Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures. Observed annually by all member states of the World Health Organization (WHO), this initiative highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for birthing people and newborns.

As the northern hub for maternity care, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) supports over 1,300 births annually. Our level 2C perinatal and special care nursery units provide comprehensive, expert care, ensuring families receive vital support during critical moments. We are deeply committed to strengthening the health outcomes of both infants and birthing individuals, and in alignment with national efforts to improve perinatal and newborn care, we continuously strive to provide a foundation for lifelong health. This commitment is reflected through initiatives such as expanded access to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antibody administration and the reintroduction of prenatal education programs in collaboration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Anishnawbe Mushkiki.

In addition to direct care services, TBRHSC is a key partner in advancing maternal and newborn health through research and system-wide collaboration. As an active participant in the Northern Maternal Child Network, TBRHSC contributes to creating an integrated system of care across the region, identifying and addressing gaps in the northern health system while advocating for improved coordination and support. To further enhance access to care, TBRHSC introduced the Paediatric Emergency Transport Team (PETT), a service dedicated to ensuring critically ill paediatric patients in remote areas receive timely, specialized transport and care. Central to these initiatives is the Maternity Centre, a dedicated space at TBRHSC that fosters comprehensive, interdisciplinary care for pregnant individuals. This space is staffed by a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, lactation consultants, dieticians, kinesiologists and social workers, all working together to support the health and wellbeing of parents/caregivers and their children.

World Health Day serves as a reminder that a unified commitment to improving health outcomes from the very beginning lays the foundation for hopeful futures. At TBRHSC, we remain steadfast in our dedication to perinatal and newborn health, striving for excellence in clinical care, advancing research and advocating for the evolving needs of our community. Through innovation and collaboration, we continue to shape a future where every birthing person and newborn has access to exceptional care, unwavering support, and the opportunity to thrive.

To learn more about World Health Day, please visit the United Nations website at: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2025