Advancing Maternal and Child Health: Prof. Kandala Participates in Africa Lancet Report Launch in Dakar
Photo credit: Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala
By Kateryna Loboda
Dakar, Senegal – April 2025 — Prof. Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, one of SSACAB’s Principal Investigators, recently participated in a landmark event in Dakar, Senegal (April 14–16, 2025), hosted by the Senegalese Minister of Health. This high-level meeting marked both: the formal launch of the 2025 Countdown Lancet Report and the kickoff of regional discussions for the Africa-specific edition of the Lancet Report on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
The event brought together some of the brightest minds in global health — experts from institutions like the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins University, University of Manitoba, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and the United Nations, as well as a Senior Editor from The Lancet Global Health. This powerful cross-section of institutions emphasized the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the initiative.
Prof. Kandala, who was invited as an expert in the field of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH), joined in critical, data-driven discussions aimed at addressing the persistent burden of preventable deaths across the African continent.
“The discussions were insightful and dynamic,” Prof. Kandala noted. “But they also served as a sobering reminder that, despite progress, a great deal of work remains to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths across the African region.”
The report — “Tracking Progress in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition: The Countdown to 2030” — offers a comprehensive analysis of RMNCAH&N progress relative to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides insights into survival trends, nutrition, health systems, financing, policies, and inequalities—particularly in low- and middle-income countries where challenges remain most acute.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, Senegal’s Minister of Health, emphasized how important reliable data is for creating effective health policies. Dr. Sennen Hounton, Regional Director of UNFPA WCARO, also emphasized the report’s role as a tool for course correction and strategic planning with just five years remaining to reach the 2030 goals.
The event stood as both a celebration of collaborative achievement and a sobering call to action. Special recognition was given to the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and to Cheikh, whose leadership has been pivotal in advancing this continental effort.
Prof. Kandala’s involvement underscores the meaningful contributions of African researchers in shaping global health discourse and driving forward evidence-based solutions for maternal and child health.
