Oluwatobi Adu 
GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up efforts to improve maternal care for chronic diseases, announcing plans to develop new recommendations for pregnant and postpartum women living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
The move comes as chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity increasingly contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes worldwide.
In an update released on Monday, WHO said indirect causes linked to NCDs account for about 23 per cent of maternal deaths globally, making them the second leading cause of maternal mortality after haemorrhage.
The agency warned that women living with chronic conditions face heightened risks of complications including pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, caesarean delivery and long-term cardiovascular disease.
Babies born to mothers with NCDs are also more likely to experience adverse health outcomes and develop obesity or other chronic diseases later in life.
WHO noted that the burden is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where access to specialised healthcare remains limited.
According to the organisation, antenatal care often represents the first point of contact women have with health systems, creating an important opportunity for screening and managing chronic illnesses.
To strengthen maternal care for chronic diseases, WHO will convene a virtual Expert Convening on NCD Care Integration During Pregnancy on June 30, 2026.
The meeting aims to ensure that guideline-based tools are practical, adaptable and responsive to different health system realities.
“The group aims to ensure that WHO guideline derivative tools are practical, implementable, and responsive to health system realities,” WHO said.
The organisation also invited stakeholders and the public to review participating experts and provide feedback on potential conflicts of interest to promote transparency and credibility.
Public health specialists say integrating NCD management into maternal healthcare could significantly reduce preventable deaths among mothers and newborns, particularly in resource-limited settings.
About the Author
Hussaini Ibrahim 
Mirian Gom 