Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project
The Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project is a social contribution initiative that helps mothers and children in Africa access the healthcare services they need. In Sub-Saharan Africa, shortages of health facilities and health workers prevent many people from receiving essential healthcare. Since 2015, SHIONOGI has worked with companies, NGOs and other partners, using donations from Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and SHIONOGI Group employees, to support maternal and child health and improve access to community health services.
![From Japan to Africa. -Our Love for Mothers and Children Goes Around and Expands- [Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project] Our project supports children's and mother's health as the basis of prosperity of society](/content/dam/shionogi/global/sustainability/society/social-contribution-activities/mtom/images/mtom_top_concept_en.png)
Concept
A Project Inspired by One Employee’s Experience
The Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project grew out of the experience of a SHIONOGI employee who had worked on HIV prevention and care in Africa as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer.
Although treatment was available free of charge, many people were unable to continue receiving it because of shortages of healthcare workers and inadequate counseling and support systems. Amid these challenges, mothers who wanted to stay healthy for their children continued their treatment.
This experience inspired a commitment to help protect mothers and children from preventable deaths.
Maternal and Child Health Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa
- ※1unicef THE STATE OF THE WORLD ’S CHILDREN 2023
- ※2Targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (WHO)
- ※3Child Mortality Report 2023
Strengthening Health Systems through the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project
Protecting health requires that everyone can access the healthcare services they need, when they need them. This aligns with Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which seeks to ensure that all people can obtain the health services they need. In Sub-Saharan Africa, however, weaknesses in health systems, including shortages of facilities and personnel and gaps in health education and community support, continue to limit access.
The Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project contributes to UHC by addressing these health-system challenges and working toward communities where mothers and children can continue to receive essential healthcare. Activities include improving health facilities and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, strengthening the capacity of health workers, providing health education and awareness-raising, and building community-led support systems.
Goals and Achievements
Our Vision for the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project
The Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project aims to improve access to healthcare for mothers and children in Africa and to foster communities in which people protect their own health, support one another, and sustainably use essential healthcare services.
To achieve this vision, the project improves health facilities, strengthens the capacity of health workers, and reinforces health education and community support systems. Through Mother to Mother groups (M2M groups), mothers learn from and support one another, share knowledge about maternal and child health, and help build community-wide systems that protect the health of mothers and children.
By working with community members, health workers and government authorities, the project also seeks to establish locally led systems that can continue and evolve after external support ends.
Overview of Activities
Improvement of infrastructure
- Building health facilities
- Maintaining equipment and fixtures
- Providing mobile clinic services
- Building water supply facilities, etc.
Education and sensitization
- Capacity building of healthcare workers
- Training of community health workers
- Awareness-raising activities for community people (about health, nutrition, and hygiene)
Enhancement of the community support system
- Promote the participation of community people in addressing health service issues
- Facilitate the partnership between the communities and government officials
- Enhancement of monitoring and evaluation
- Community health workers continue to conduct awareness-raising activities for community people
- Community people understand the significance of health services and use them
- Community people become accustomed to proper nutrition and hygienic behavior
- Community people take the initiative in improving health services
- The government and its partners collaborate to monitor the activities
Project Goal
Improving health of pregnant and breastfeeding women and health of children under 5 years of age
Project Goal
Establishment of sustainable community health systems
Project Vision
To develop sustainable communities for the well-being of mothers and children
Project History
Since its launch in 2015, the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project has continued to evolve in response to local needs. Starting with maternal and child health, its activities have expanded from health-facility development and capacity building to stronger community support systems, improved water, sanitation and hygiene, and the use of digital technology.
First Term Project (2015–2021)
In Narok County, Kenya, the project supported one dispensary by improving health and water-supply facilities, training health workers and community health workers, and providing mobile clinic services.
Second Term Project (2020–2023)
In Kilifi County, Kenya, support was expanded to multiple health facilities, with a focus on comprehensive, community-wide health-system strengthening.
Third Term Project (from 2023)
In addition to initiatives to improve healthcare access in Kenya and Ghana, the project is using an educational app for mothers in Tanzania to increase knowledge about diarrhea prevention and promote appropriate hygiene practices.
Key Achievements
* Examples of essential healthcare services
Antenatal and postnatal care, appropriate breastfeeding, newborn care, full immunization for each age group, iron and vitamin A supplementation, oral rehydration salts and zinc to prevent and treat dehydration, malaria prevention, and deworming.
** Community-based groups in which mothers teach and learn from one another by sharing knowledge and experience related to maternal and child health, nutrition and hygiene.
Initiatives
Kenya
In Kenya, the project has improved dispensaries and water-supply facilities, trained health workers and community health workers, provided mobile clinic services, and conducted WASH education. Mother to Mother groups also enable mothers to share knowledge and encourage the use of health services throughout their communities.
Ghana
In Ghana, the project has developed maternity waiting houses and maternity blocks, strengthened community health workers, and supported community activities. These efforts help create an environment in which pregnant women and children can access the healthcare services they need, including a safe place for women to stay before delivery.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, the project provides WASH education content to mothers through a mobile app. The app delivers information on diarrhea prevention, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, and promotes appropriate WASH practices.
Third Term Project
United Republic of Tanzania
Coming Soon!
Collaboration with Diverse Partners
World Vision Japan
World Vision Japan implements maternal and child health initiatives in Kenya using donations from SHIONOGI.
JOICFP
JOICFP implements maternal and child health initiatives in Ghana using donations from SHIONOGI.
AfricanMothers Inc.
In collaboration with AfricanMothers Inc., the project provides WASH education to mothers in Tanzania through a mobile app, promoting diarrhea prevention and appropriate WASH practices.
Project Video
1st) Project Overview
2nd) Project Efforts in Kilifi Country, Kenya
3rd) What's "Mother to Mother Group"
Cooperation with employees in the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project
In this project, each employee is committed as a member of society to helping solve maternal and child health issues in developing countries.
(1) Contribution through donations made by employees
Employees make donations through the Shionogi Social Contribution Support Association “Socie” to this project.
In addition, we have established a system to support this project through donations using reward points granted to employees according to their use of cafeteria systems and Web- and app-based healthcare support services.
(2) Activities promoted together with employees: Mother to Mother Ambassadors
325 employees participate as Mother to Mother Ambassadors. (as of December 2024)
Ambassadors deepen their understanding of maternal and child health challenges in developing countries, efforts to improve healthcare access, and the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). They share the project’s purpose and activities in their workplaces and with people around them. Through website communications, internal lectures and other opportunities, SHIONOGI encourages employees to view social challenges as personally relevant and translate awareness into action.
