Within the framework of SESRIC’s IbnSina Health Capacity Building Programme (IbnSina-CaB) and in line with the relevant resolutions of the 6^th and 7^th Sessions of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM), the Centre organised a Training Course on “Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa” on 06-08 December 2021 through an online video conferencing platform.

The training course was provided by competent experts from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Kingdom of Morocco for the benefit of 29 experts and executives from the Ministries of Health of the 11 OIC member countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The main objective of the training course was to strengthen the technical capacities of the healthcare professionals at Ministries of Health of the OIC Member States in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to enhance the quality of services for maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as effective monitoring and evaluation of these services in their respective countries. The training also provided insights into the Moroccan experience, mechanisms and strategy that could be transferred to other OIC countries in the region with the aim of accelerating reduction in maternal, newborn and child mortality within the framework of the thematic area three of the OIC-Strategic Health Programme of Action (OIC-SHPA) 2014-2023.

In his speech at the opening session, H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General of SESRIC, stressed that significant progress had been recorded at the global level during the last two decades in reducing newborn and maternal mortality and the OIC member countries also witnessed a remarkable improvement in maternal and newborn health. However, despite this improvement, maternal and newborn health remained one of the major concerns in many OIC member countries, particularly for those in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, he further added. He also underlined that this situation strongly signals an urgent need for these OIC countries to undertake the necessary needed actions and enhance their national efforts towards strengthening their health systems and infrastructures, particularly through investing in the quality health infrastructure and services, training more health professionals, and improving access to health services.

In his welcoming speech, Dr. Abdelhakim YAHYANE, Director of the Population Department at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Kingdom of Morocco, stated that health is undoubtedly a necessary condition for sustainable development and is, therefore, one of the essential targets of the sustainable development goals for 2030, and maternal and child health is a national and international priority. He also added that the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Kingdom of Morocco is delighted to share its expertise in maternal and child health with the member countries of the OIC in Sub-Saharan Africa and reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate in the various fields of health within the framework of SESRIC’s IbnSina Health Capacity Building Programme (IbnSina-CaB).

In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Amb. Askar MUSSINOV, Assistant Secretary General of the OIC for S&T, highlighted that the OIC General Secretariat has always prioritized maternal, newborn and child health as it is one of the key thematic areas of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action (SHPA) 2014-2023. He also added that the General Secretariat works with relevant OIC institutions such as SESRIC and international partners to come up with initiatives and programmes that focus on transferring knowledge and expertise in this field in order to promote maternal and child health in the OIC Member States. He concluded his remarks by congratulating SESRIC as well as the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Kingdom of Morocco for organising this capacity building activity on such a crucial topic.

This training course was conducted in line with the virtual solutions undertaken by SESRIC in order to better serve the Centre’s training activities and keep participants motivated and engaged during this challenging time of global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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