The Chadian Ministry of Public Health, with support from partners, is organizing a workshop in Sarh, Moyen-Chari province, from November 2-5, 2026. The event brings together health officials from Moyen-Chari, Mandoul, and Logone oriental provinces to review and strengthen the national network of maternities providing emergency obstetric and neonatal care (SONU). The goal is to improve medical interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
The four-day workshop focuses on reviewing the current SONU network and addressing challenges faced by health facilities. Participants discuss available resources, difficulties encountered, and measures to make emergency care more accessible and effective. Interim Delegate of Public Health for Moyen-Chari, Dr. Nehoulné Gaston, emphasized the importance of a functional network of maternities to respond to population needs. He noted that many health facilities face problems limiting their intervention capacity.
Dr. Nehoulné Gaston highlighted the need for qualified personnel, medical equipment, and proximity to health centers. He stressed that timely and adapted medical assistance is crucial, especially in case of complications. The doctor also noted that several health facilities are still confronted with problems that limit their capacity to intervene.
Dr. Tarda Olivier, a maternal health specialist with UNFPA, noted that the availability of health infrastructure is not enough to guarantee proper care. He emphasized the need for health centers to regularly have essential medicines and medical products. Dr. Olivier also stressed the importance of strengthening relationships between health structures to facilitate rapid transfer of patients with complications to better-equipped facilities.
Ngomsebaye Allahognan Voltaire, Secretary General of Barh-Koh department, recalled that maternal and neonatal mortality remains a major concern in Chad. He cited difficulties in accessing care, low attendance at maternities, and obstacles to family planning as factors worsening the situation. According to him, Chad has one of the highest maternal mortality rates, with 860 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 32 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
The Secretary General also noted that only 22% of deliveries occur in health facilities. He called on health professionals, administrative authorities, and partners to join efforts to improve childbirth conditions and ensure better assistance to women and newborns. The workshop aims to address these challenges and improve the quality of care provided to mothers and newborns.
The event is expected to lead to concrete recommendations to enhance the SONU network and ultimately reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Chad. The country's health authorities are committed to working with partners to implement these recommendations and improve the health of mothers and newborns.
Key points
- Chad hosts a workshop to improve emergency obstetric and neonatal care in the country.
- The country's maternal mortality rate is 860 deaths per 100,000 live births.
- Only 22% of deliveries in Chad occur in health facilities.
