Consolidation of a Mother-Child Center in Gabon, Central Africa to Improve Mother-Child Health (CENSAMATIL)
Situation:
Gabon faces major challenges in maternal and child health, with persistently high rates of maternal and child mortality and a significant number of preterm births. The country carries a heavy burden of infectious diseases, including malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as helminth infections and schistosomiasis, as well as widespread bacterial and viral illnesses.
Objectives:
This project aims to sustainably improve maternal and child health by strengthening local antenatal care (ANC) services and enhancing inpatient care for infants and young children. It builds on and expands the work of CENSAMATIL, developed over the past three years.
Funding will focus on advancing sonographic capacity within ANC, improving neonatal care, and providing long-term follow-up for mothers and children across multiple pregnancies. In addition, the project will promote broader women’s health. By reinforcing local healthcare structures, the project will establish CENSAMATIL as an independent unit, working in close collaboration with existing facilities to avoid duplication of services.
The initial phase will focus on building sustainable capacity to enable a gradual transition toward self-sustaining and long-term impact.
1. Improvement in the uptake of antenatal care (ANC) services
Indicators: Proportion of pregnant women attending at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits (ANC4+) and proportion of women who initiate ANC early (e.g., before 16 weeks of pregnancy).
Rationale: This indicator reflects improved access to obstetric healthcare services and is associated with better health outcomes for both mothers and children.
2. Prevalence of maternal and neonatal infections
Indicator: Prevalence of parasitic infections (e.g., malaria, schistosomiasis) in pregnant women at the beginning of pregnancy (first ANC visit) and their progression throughout pregnancy until delivery. Prevalence of neonatal parasitic infections (e.g., malaria).
Rationale: Measuring the prevalence of parasitic infections over the course of pregnancy allows for a direct assessment of the effectiveness of screening and treatment programs integrated into ANC. A reduction in infection rates over time demonstrates the impact of these interventions and contributes to improved health for mothers and newborns.
3. Increase in immunization coverage among mothers and children
Indicator: Proportion of pregnant women and children receiving all recommended vaccines (e.g., tetanus toxoid, influenza) during antenatal care (ANC) or as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
Rationale: Vaccinations during pregnancy and early childhood are key preventive measures to avoid infectious diseases. A higher vaccination rate reflects not only improved accessibility and quality of health services but also increased trust in the healthcare system. Furthermore, it demonstrates that preventive services such as vaccinations have been successfully integrated into routine care (ANC/EPI).
- Promoting the uptake of at least four quality-assured antenatal care visits (ANC4+) by pregnant women, with an emphasis on early initiation of care, ideally before the 16th week of pregnancy.
- Monitoring and reducing parasitic infections (e.g. schistosomiasis, malaria) among pregnant women and newborns, including the documentation of related symptoms and pregnancy outcomes.
- Strengthening the utilization of immunization services by pregnant women and children during ANC and EPI visits, in order to increase vaccination coverage.
During the first three years of CENSAMATIL, both the project team and local staff demonstrated a high level of commitment and sustained engagement. The long-term goal is to establish CENSAMATIL as a recognized health center that serves as a model and inspires similar initiatives at both national and international levels.
The scientific expertise and infrastructure will be maintained through internal funding. Depending on future needs, additional co-financing for advanced clinical and research projects will be sought from international funding bodies. After the end of the EKFS funding period, the applicants will continue to provide advisory support to the local team and assist in securing new sources of funding.
Close collaboration between local staff and international partners will be sustained through regular communication, reciprocal visits, and joint workshops. The partnership is grounded in mutual respect and equal participation, with early involvement of local professionals, both of which are key to fostering long-term staff retention and preserving institutional expertise. CENSAMATIL aims to position itself as an independent unit within CERMEL, leading interdisciplinary initiatives in the field of maternal and child health.
The project’s key strength lies in integrating clinical care and research through an interdisciplinary approach to improving maternal and child health in parasite-endemic regions. It unites local and international teams, combining clinical, scientific, and public health expertise. Digital tools support follow-up of the pregnant women and data collection, enabling reliable documentation of antenatal visits, infection status, and vaccination coverage. This enhances care quality and continuity - especially in remote areas - and supports timely, evidence-based decision-making. By linking test-and-treat strategies with digital innovations, the project will strengthen health systems in similar settings.
Further information: https://cermel.org/CENSAMATIL.php
