Postpartum hemorrhage: A turning point for global action

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading and preventable cause of maternal death, disproportionately affecting women in sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. At the 25th FIGO World Congress, the President's Session focused on PPH, and marked a crucial gathering dedicated to tackling this urgent issue. Our guiding principle is simple: no woman should die from excessive bleeding after childbirth. This special collection brings together five editorials developed from presentations delivered during the session, reflecting perspectives from community advocacy, clinical care, professional leadership, government action, and global policy. Together, they underscore a shared vision: PPH is preventable, treatable, and unacceptable as a cause of maternal death. The statistics are stark. While the global maternal mortality ratio is approximately 197 per 100 000 live births, over 90% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa averages more than twice the global rate, with South Asia also facing a substantial burden. Neonatal mortality follows similar disparities, underscoring the urgent need for effective, timely interventions. A major milestone highlighted during the session is the release of the joint WHO-FIGO-ICM guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PPH. These unified, evidence-based guidelines replace multiple fragmented documents and provides a clear, actionable framework for preventing and managing PPH worldwide (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240115637). Guidelines alone, however, are not enough. Lives are saved when evidence is implemented, adapted to local contexts, and supported by strong health systems, trained personnel, and engaged communities. For PPH, every second counts—early recognition, prompt action, and rapid escalation of care are critical. The editorials in this collection illustrate how collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches—from community engagement to health policy—can translate evidence into action. They reinforce a shared agenda: reducing preventable deaths caused by PPH to zero. The session also marked the inauguration of World Postpartum Hemorrhage Day on October 5, 2025, as a day of remembrance, action, and solidarity. It reminds us that PPH is preventable and that every maternal death is a failure we have the power to prevent. We invite readers to engage with this collection as a unified call to action. The knowledge exists. The tools exist. The responsibility lies with all of us—to act together, swiftly, and decisively—to ensure that every woman survives childbirth. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. ChatGPT was used to condense the original presentation transcript of the speaker into an initial editorial draft; all content, final edits and approvals were made by the authors. Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.