The Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF officially launched a US$ 48.4 million health initiative, titled, Strengthening of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Project.

This new 5-year activity will be implemented across Ennedi Est, Mandoul and Salama provinces as well as the catchment areas of the Abeche and Bangor provincial hospitals, reaching out to 6,298,764 inhabitants.

The project is jointly funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, the Chadian government and UNICEF. The high-profile launch ceremony was presided by the Hon. Minister of Public Health and Prevention, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, who was joined by Mr. Al-Houssaine BAH, the Head of Operations at the IsDB Abuja Regional Office, the Secretary General of the province of Hadjar-Lamis, Mr. Ahmat Mahamat Tolly, and the President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Mourtada Hassan Babikir. The ceremony also brought together military, civilian, and international partners.

The Strengthening of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Project is tailored to 27 new health facilities, providing essential infrastructure upgrades, with the goal of increasing the percentage of women attending four antenatal care visits from 25% to 60%, increasing the capacity of health facilities to deliver complete emergency obstetric and neonatal care from 33% to 100%, and the percentage of children immunized (penta-3) to over 80%. Specifically, the activity will save lives by training 300+ health personnel on Emergency Obstetrical and Neonatal Care (EmONC) and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).

During his remarks, Hon. Minister Dr. Abderahim assured that the project would meet the highest standards and deadlines, reflecting the commitment of the Chadian authorities and international partners to maternal and child health.

The Secretary General Mr. Tolly recalled the objective of the Chadian government and its partners to make health services more accessible to all, particularly in the canton of Afrouck. He expressed his gratitude to all the contributors to the project for their essential work and stressed the importance of this advance for the daily health of the population, with a focus on the care of the "mother-child couple".

In his speech, the President of the Organizing Committee Mr. Babikir, stressed the importance of the project to improve health coverage of vulnerable populations, with the ultimate goal of reducing the mortality and morbidity rate.