Topic:
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum
Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Greece
Committee: World Health Organization
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum
School: Mattawan High School
Threats to maternal health have resulted in preventable deaths for as long as women have given birth. Maternal mortality rates have risen globally over the years, but thousands of women and newborns die each year due to preventable complications. The United Nations have addressed this issue with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1: reducing global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Since this has been implemented, many European nations have successfully surpassed that target goal. But, many low income regions like Saharan Africa have barely made any progress.
Maternal mortality correlates directly with the availability of skilled doctors and access to obstetric care in case of emergencies. Researchers from WHO and UNFPA have found that most deaths result from preventable causes like infection, hypertension, and hemorrhages. These deaths are not caused by medical complexity, but by the time of intervention.
Greece recognizes maternal mortality as a global fundamental human rights and equity issue. Greece’s maternal mortality rate remains low, however the country of Greece understands its responsibility to serve nations that face more challenges and strengthen its own healthcare for small vulnerable populations.
Greece continues to keep a strong commitment to the improvement of maternal health globally. Greece, provides access to prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care through its National Health System within the country. In Greek maternal care, midwives play a crucial role in community healthcare. Maternal care is supported by training programs and integration into hospitals. To monitor risk factors, Greece employs digital maternal health records in every hospital and community care center.
Greece focuses on proper access for all women, including all undocumented migrants and refugees. Greece offers antenatal screenings, vaccinations, and skilled birth attendants to all those regardless of legal status. Greece tries to align their efforts with WHO recommendations by emphasizing inclusion, universal health coverage, and non-discrimination towards migrants. Although Greece has succeeded, there are many other nations that still face challenges. Nevertheless, Greece continues to support maternal health infrastructure and strengthen emergency services.
Internationally, Greece fully agrees and aligns with WHO’s Global strategy for Children’s, Adolescents’, and Women’s health and assists the maternal structure of WHO and UNFPA. Greece contributes to extensive research on motherhood, advocating for better approaches to maternal mortality complications, and taking part in EU health.
Greece believes that in order to reduce maternal mortality worldwide, it requires a comprehensive approach to pre and postnatal care, along with coordination and well-targeted investments. First, Greece supports the distribution of resources to low provider density and remote populations. By expanding midwife training centers and deploying multiple mobile health units to less remote regions can make a significant impact in maternal mortality. Second, Greece pleads for better equipped health surveillance systems in maternal care facilities. Life-saving tools such as Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR), data reports, and tracking systems can help healthcare providers identify early and preventable complications. Third, Greece wants to advocate for global pre and postnatal care. By including regular screenings, access to birth attendants during delivery, and pain management in case of complications, Greece aims to improve maternal health outcomes. Postpartum care is equally as important as prenatal care; Greece supports WHO guidelines on monitoring for certain complications like sepsis, hemorrhage, and depression. Countries need to adopt these care models that fully support mothers from early pregnancy to postpartum period.
Finally, Greece has sought out the need to build off of existing UN resolutions. SDG 3.1, WHO maternal health strategies, and UNFPA guidelines in case of emergencies, so that member states can adapt quickly. Greece encourages this collaboration among states, NGOs, and international organizations in order to share the best practices in creating a sustainable health system that can protect mothers and newborns.
Greece upholds its commitment to reducing maternal mortality and making sure childbirth is safe for all mothers, regardless of region or status. Through resource distribution, stronger health systems, and collective international action, preventable maternal deaths can be identified and eliminated. Greece is ready to work with all Member States of WHO in order to globally justify the rights and health of every mother and child.
