The US Ambassador's Office, through FHI 360, has donated 5,800 birth kits to the Mauritanian Ministry of Health and Social Development. The kits will be distributed in 13 health districts across several regions, including Mopti, Bandiagara, Segou, Sikasso, and Bougouni. This initiative aims to improve maternal and neonatal health indicators, encourage prenatal and postnatal consultations, and increase assisted births in health centers.
The ceremony to hand over the kits took place at the Ministry of Health and Social Development, presided over by Secretary General Abdoulaye Guindo. The US Chargé d'Affaires, Daniel Rhodes, and project partners were also in attendance. The kits will be distributed to women who have had at least four prenatal consultations and have given birth in a partner community health center.
The goal of this initiative is to improve maternal and neonatal health indicators, encourage prenatal and postnatal consultations, increase assisted births in health centers, and strengthen the demand for quality maternal and neonatal health services. This donation is part of the US foreign policy, "America First," and the US global health strategy.
According to Daniel Rhodes, the US Chargé d'Affaires, this support is part of a broader effort to make both countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous. The US prioritizes partnerships that contribute to these goals. In the health sector, US support aims to save lives, strengthen health security, and help Mali take progressive charge of its own health system.
The EpiC project, funded by the US and implemented by FHI 360, supports the Malian government in the fight against HIV, global health security, maternal and child health, and nutrition. Daniel Rhodes reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting Mali in contributing to maternal health, child safety, and the progressive empowerment of the national health system.
Abdoulaye Guindo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, expressed gratitude to partners for their constant engagement alongside the Malian government. He emphasized that this donation demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting the lives of women and newborns and promoting equitable access to quality care.
Maternal and neonatal mortality remain significant challenges in Mauritania, despite efforts by the state and its partners. The donation of birth kits represents an important contribution to addressing these challenges. The Ministry of Health and Social Development considers maternal and child health a major priority in its health policy.
Key points
- The US Ambassador's Office donates 5,800 birth kits to improve maternal and neonatal health in Mauritania.
- The kits will be distributed in 13 health districts across several regions.
- The initiative aims to improve health indicators, encourage consultations, and increase assisted births.
