The WorkshopOverview

Despite substantial progress has been made, MDG4 (Reducing child mortality) and MDG5 (Reducing maternal motality and achieving universal access to reproductive health) have not been not be achieved and maternal and neonatal health remain a global health priority in the post-2015 framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The health-related MDGs have been replaced by one overarching health goal SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. This new goal contains Target 3.1. By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births, Target 3.2 -end preventable deaths of children under 5 by 2030,Target 3.3 which aims to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, and Target 3.8 - achieve universal health coverage, access to quality health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. Efforts to accelerate progress need to continue. Stronger leadership and political support in the settings that are most lagging behind are prerequisites for successful completion of those ambitious global targets.

We believe it is important that a wide range of research and academia stakeholders unite behind the ambitious but achievable goal of accelerating the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. Building on a previous academic collaboration, three institutions with recognised expertise and dedication to improving maternal and neonatal health, the Maternal Health Task Force at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), Aga Khan University (AKU), and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), have joined forces around a new academic alliance to launch the Safe Mothers and Newborns. Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: A Leadership Workshop.

The goal of the workshop is to increase the capacity of key players in the field of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) from high burden countries to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by upgrading their technical knowledge and leadership skills.

Workshop General Objective

To provide country level key players with the information and skills necessary to improve policies, programmes and interventions aimed to accelerate progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the settings where they are most lacking/needed

WorkshopLearning Objectives

Participants will gainknowledge on:

Main determinants and global trends in maternal and neonatal mortality
Evidence-based interventions for improving maternal and newborn health and survival, and potential delivery platforms.
Available metrics for monitoring and evaluating progress, and indicators for assessing the quality and coverage of maternal and newborn health interventions.

...and willdevelop and strengthen:

Problem solving and analytical skills needed to lead, design, implement, evaluate and improve policies and strategies in the countries where they work.
Effective leadership and programme management strategies to scale-up interventions and successfully reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

The contentsProgramme

Teaching ApproachesPolicy and Public Health Focus

The workshop will include a wide range of teaching approaches and techniques, such as lectures, vignettes and analysis of selected readings. The workshop will be highly participatory and will involve in-depth and moderated discussions, panels, case-studies, simulations and problem-solving exercises grounded in participants’ experiences and relevant for their needs. The workshop will have a policy and public health focus, and will not specifically include clinical contents.

A list of selected materials will be made available to participants before the workshop as required readings.

Faculty will be asked to prepare the sessions as lectures, complemented with vignettes and/or case studies. Moreover, in order to match the workshop’s program with the participants’ needs and expectations, during the selection process prospective participants will be asked to describe in a structured way the most urgent RMNCH issues they face in their settings.

Practical informationWhen & Where

The WorkshopDates and Venue

The third edition of the Safe Mothers & Newborns Leadership Workshop will be held from July 11 to 16 June, 2017 in Nairoby, Kenya hosted by Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University East-Africa

Nairobi Venues

*The Welcome reception on Sunday 11 June, 2017 will take place at Southern Sun Mayfair Hotel.
Southern Sun Mayfair Nairobi
Parklands Road, Parklands,
PO Box 66807-00800 Westlands
Nairobi, Kenya

*The Safe Mothers and Newborns Leadership workshop will run Monday 12 - Friday 16 June, 2017 at:
The Aga Khan University School of Media and Communications
9 West Building, 7th Floor, Mkungu Close,
Off Parklands Road, At the Sarit Centre roundabout,
P.O. Box 30270-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Logistical info

The WorkshopDuration

One week-long intensive training course. Arrival of participants: Saturday. Registration, course opening and networking event: Sunday. Program will run Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00 hours.