Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

We thank the Director-General for the report, which highlights 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, are 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 other 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 a need to address gaps in availability, access, and the contextual relevance of policies.