University of Saskatchewan
IN-25: Innovation B

The Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project aims to reduce maternal and newborn mortality, improve sexual and reproductive health by taking a woman-centered approach to mobilizing communities, increasing capacity in the health-care system and conducting research in 20 communities in the province. The project is a partnership between the Inhumane Provincial Health Directorate and the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, which is the implementing agency. The project is working with the provincial health directorate in Inhambane and local health workers to provide both training and infrastructure support, such as ambulances, maternal clinics, waiting homes, and updated medical training and materials. For example, the project delivered a total of six ambulances to region in 2019. Establishing infrastructure is one of multiple interventions the project is working on in these communities. The team is also working to ensure that local women are empowered to become leaders in their health care needs, research, training and health management. The project was initiated in 2017 and will be contributing much needed clinical training and assets for the local health-care system through to 2022. The Canadian Team is made of 6 staff from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine is an Epidemiologist and the Principal investigator, leading the project.