Chad health officials review maternity network
Health leaders in Moyen-Chari, Mandoul, and Logone Oriental are meeting in Sarh to improve emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
Health officials from Chad's Moyen-Chari, Mandoul, and Logone Oriental regions met in Sarh on November 2, 2026, to revise the National Network of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (SONU) maternity services. The workshop aims to assess current health facility operations, identify shortcomings, and propose improvements for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns in emergency situations.
Dr. Nehoulné Gaston, interim delegate for Public Health in Moyen-Chari, highlighted the need for a maternity network that meets population needs, citing shortages of qualified staff, insufficient medical equipment, and the distance to some health facilities. Dr. Tarda Olivier from UNFPA stressed that better care also requires regular medicine supplies and effective coordination between health centers for patient transfers. The Secretary-General of Barh-Koh, Allahognan Ngomsembaye Voltaire, noted the high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths in Chad and difficulties women face accessing care.
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Public Health in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, UN Women, and UNFPA, will conclude on Thursday. Concerns raised include low attendance at maternity clinics and barriers to family planning services. The event seeks concrete solutions to these persistent challenges.
Why it mattersMothers and newborns in Chad face risks due to inadequate emergency obstetric and neonatal care services.