Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality

The project supports Mali’s efforts to improve the maternal and neonatal health and helps improve access to and quality of care for more than 596 919 pregnant women new mothers and their newborns. The project aligns with the Government of Mali’s priorities to improve the quality of and access to health services in order to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates which remain high in Mali. It builds on the knowledge and lessons learned from a research-action project (QUARITÉ trial) initiated in 2007 by the University of Montréal and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) in 12 referral health centres (CsREF) which offer comprehensive emergency obstetrical care. This project specifically aims to improve the availability and accessibility of essential obstetrical and neonatal care in the country’s functional health structures.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: National strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality supported by key players in the sector including interventions focused on obstetric and neonatal emergency care (EmOC) recognized for their effectiveness in saving the lives of mothers and newborns and promoting a human rights approach; Increased collaboration between the leaders of professional associations and key players in the health sector in the implementation of the national strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.