From August 26 to 28, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) lead the "First Maternal Neonatal Health Congress 2025 in Quito," a meeting space for health professionals, researchers, and decision-makers. This initiative will allow for a collaborative effort to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, in addition to improving the quality of life for families.
This space represents an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and good practices, as well as to strengthen collaboration networks in strategies aimed at benefiting mothers and children. The debate among experts will undoubtedly contribute to improving the quality of health care.
Around 400 health professionals from all over the country gathered at this congress, including neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, doctors, and nurses. Also participating were public health policy officials, academics, non-governmental organizations, and representatives of international organizations who will provide technical and organizational support during the presentations.
During the opening of the congress, Jimmy Martin, Minister of Public Health, noted that maternal and neonatal health is one of the most sensitive and decisive pillars of any health system. He highlighted the importance of updating and seeking knowledge, improving skills, and participating precisely in these spaces that allow us to share good practices for the benefit of our population.
In 2025, the MSP created the "Interinstitutional Maternal and Neonatal Health Commission," which seeks to generate actions for the implementation, strengthening, monitoring, control, and feedback of national strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Ecuador.
For his part, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Markus Behrend, congratulated this initiative that places one of the most urgent public health priorities at its center: reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the country.
"Maternal mortality is one of the most sensitive indicators of equity, responsiveness, and quality in a health system," said Behrend.
Sonia Quezada, representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in Ecuador, pointed out that 9 out of 10 maternal deaths can be avoided with timely access to quality services and trained health personnel.
"This congress acquires a transcendental value because it is not only an academic event, but a platform that allows us to translate global objectives into concrete actions so that no mother, no newborn is left behind," said Quezada.
Arturo Romboli, representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), indicated that this space is fundamental not only for reflection but also to join forces and strengthen a common commitment: the well-being of mothers, babies, and their families. Likewise, Antonio Lapenta, Regional Health Coordinator of the Italo-Ecuadorian Fund for Sustainable Development (FIEDS) and the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development - AICS, ratified his commitment to continue supporting public health issues and strengthening the technical capacities of health operators, "without trained, qualified and motivated health operators there will be no real improvement in health care."
