PARTNER

Our Focus Areas

Turning Evidence Into National Health System Change

Maternal Health

Despite significant progress over the past decades, maternal mortality remains unacceptably high in many low- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), approximately 150 women die every day from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly two-thirds of these deaths. We are working to strengthen health systems by promoting evidence-based maternal care, including skilled birth attendance and timely emergency obstetric interventions. Our approach integrates data-driven monitoring and community partnerships to improve service delivery and ensure equitable access to quality maternal health care. Through these efforts, we contribute to global goals such as reducing the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals, UN). Improving maternal health not only safeguards mothers but also enhances newborn survival and supports family wellbeing impacting entire generations.

  • Skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care
  • High-quality antenatal and postnatal services
  • Community-based maternal health programs
  • Research on pregnancy complications and interventions

Across many low- and middle-income countries, life-saving health solutions often fail to reach the communities that need them most — not because the ideas are ineffective, but because health systems lack scalable, sustainable ways to implement them.

At the Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), we focus on solving that challenge.

Our innovations are designed beyond the pilot stage. We generate, test, and scale practical solutions that strengthen real-world health systems — from hospitals and district networks to community delivery platforms and national policy frameworks.

By combining implementation science, digital innovation, workforce strengthening, and frontline service delivery, we help governments and partners adopt approaches that improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes at scale.

Capacity Building & Mentorship

Capacity Building & Mentorship

Supporting researchers, practitioners, and emerging health leaders through mentorship, training, internships, and collaborative learning opportunities.

Gender Equity and Equality

Gender Equity and Equality

At the MNCH Centre, we recognize that achieving health and development outcomes is impossible without addressing gender disparities. Our work is grounded in the belief that every woman, man, girl, and boy deserves equal opportunities to live a healthy and dignified...

Adolescent Health

Adolescent Health

Adolescents represent a crucial demographic for health interventions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where over 23% of the population is aged 10-19 (UNICEF, 2023). Yet, nearly 50% of adolescents lack access to adequate sexual and reproductive health services (WHO,...

Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services is fundamental to individual rights and community wellbeing. Yet, according to the Guttmacher Institute (2023), over 200 million women in low- and middle-income countries still lack access to modern...

Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

Nutrition is foundational to health, growth, and development across the life course, particularly for women, children, and adolescents. According to the Global Nutrition Report (2024), malnutrition remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and...

Newborn, SickBorn, and Child Health

Newborn, SickBorn, and Child Health

The first 28 days of life are the most vulnerable, with nearly 2.4 million newborn deaths occurring globally each year, according to UNICEF’s 2024 data. Stillbirths remain a critical yet often overlooked challenge, with an estimated 2 million occurring worldwide...

Women’s Health

Women’s Health

At the heart of our mission is the empowerment of women through improved health outcomes. Our work in women’s health focuses on delivering comprehensive, evidence-based interventions that address the unique biological, social, and economic challenges women face...

Explore the Work Behind the Impact

See how MNCH turns tested innovations into practical initiatives, active projects, and research partnerships that strengthen health systems.

Our Initiatives Research & Projects