Launch of the Third Phase for the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project New Activities to Support Maternal and Child Health in Kenya and Ghana

OSAKA, Japan, June 1, 2023 - Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Chief Executive Officer: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter "Shionogi") announced that, it has launched new projects to support maternal and child health in Nakuru County, Republic of Kenya, and in the Upper Manya Krobo District, Eastern Region, Republic of Ghana, as the third phase for the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project (hereafter “this project”), a maternal and child healthcare program in Africa.

This project was started in 2015 with the cooperation of the international NGO “World Vision Japan” (National Director: Mariko Kinai; hereafter “WVJ”) based on donations from Shionogi and its employees. Efforts have been made to improve effective healthcare for mothers and children in Africa. We have completed the first phase targeting Narok County, Republic of Kenya,^1,2 and are currently proceeding with the second phase³ (project location: Kilifi County, Republic of Kenya). In the newly launched third term project, we will promote support activities through a new partnership with a Japan-based international NGO “Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning” (Chairperson: Sumie Ishii; hereafter “JOICFP”) in addition to WVJ, a partner that has been working together with us in the first and second term projects.

The environment for maternal and child healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and Ghana, target countries for the third term project, is still in a critical situation. Sub-Saharan Africa sees 76 under-5 deaths per 1,000 live births⁴ and 533 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births,⁴ with a huge difference from the relevant targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ("as low as 25" and "less than 70", respectively⁵).

Shionogi will make use of the learnings and networks it has gained through the first and second phases and will work with various partners to improve maternal and child health. In particular, we will focus on enhancing access to healthcare, improving the sanitary environment, and reducing diarrhea among children, which are major issues in low- and middle-income countries. We will also maximize the strengths of each partner, aiming to achieve universal health coverage in Africa.

【Outline of the third phase】

Shionogi has identified “Improve access to healthcare” as one of the materiality (material issues) to be addressed. We are working to contribute to improving access to AMR treatment and supporting maternal and child health in Africa toward the realization of a sustainable society while further enhancing collaboration with international partners and other activities. Aiming for total care for infectious diseases, we will fulfill our social responsibility as a company while promoting a wide range of initiatives against infectious diseases, such as not only research and development of infectious diseases but also disease awareness activities. For more information, please visit https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/.

World Vision is an international NGO that engages in development assistance, humanitarian emergency assistance, and advocacy (approaching civil society and governments), based on the spirit of Christianity. Established in the U.S. in 1950, it was also active in Japan in the 1960s to support children through facilities where children without parents lived. World Vision Japan was founded in 1987 as one of the World Vision support offices. Currently, it is authorized by and registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is working to create a world where all children can grow up healthy, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, in approximately 100 countries. For more information, please visit: https://www.worldvision.jp/info/e-about-wvj.html.

Established in Japan in 1968, JOICFP is an international cooperation NGO that mainly promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), aiming for creating a society where everyone can realize their potential, by enabling each individual, especially women in developing countries, to make their own choices regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through ensuring access to quality services and comprehensive information. In collaboration with the United Nations, international organizations, local government agencies, NGOs, and community people, it has been carrying out technical cooperation activities in the field of SRHR in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and is advocating for the promotion of SRHR domestically and internationally. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, it started support activities in Japan. In 2017, JOICFP won the SDGs Partnership Award at the 1st Japan SDGs Awards. For more information, please visit https://www.joicfp.or.jp/eng/.

1.       Press Release on August. 3, 2021
Shionogi Completes the First Term of the Mother to Mother Project in Illaramatak, Narok County, Kenya with Transfer of a Health Facility to the County Government

2.       Press Release on March. 16, 2022
Shionogi Announces the Results of Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health Support Activities undertaken in Kenya under the “Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project”
—Health of Maasai Mothers and Children has Improved—

3.       Press Release on April. 1, 2020
A New Maternal and Child Healthcare Program Kicks Off in Kilifi County, Kenya The Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project Enters Its Second Phase with the Aim of Improving Health Access

4.       The State of the World's Children 2021 On My Mind: Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health.(UNICEF)

5.       https://www.who.int/europe/about-us/our-work/sustainable-development-goals/targets-of-sustainable-development-goal-3

For Further Information, Contact:

SHIONOGI Website Inquiry Form : https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/contact.html