Release
2021/08/03
Osaka, Japan, August 3, 2021 - Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; President & CEO: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereinafter, "Shionogi" or "the Company") hereby announces that on July 31, 2021, it completed the first term of the Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project in Illaramatak, Narok County, the Republic of Kenya. The second term of this project has been ongoing in Kilifi County, Kenya since April 2020. This project began on October 2015 and has been implemented jointly with World Vision,*1 an international NGO, with the objective of helping to improve maternal and child health in Kenya. The Company also announces that the health facility that had been constructed and opened through this project (officially named Elangata Enterit Health Facility) was transferred to the county government.
This project established a health facility and water supply facilities and provided various forms of training to local medical professionals and healthcare personnel. An increasing number of patients have been visiting the health facility, and more and more women are choosing to utilize a related facility for its maternity services, suggesting that awareness for healthcare and support has indeed been effectively provided. With the completion of the first term of the project, the health facility that was established was successfully transferred to the county government, reflecting a bright outlook for the achievement of the objectives of the project. It is expected that the local community will maintain the facility and consistently improve maternal and child health.
On June 24, 2021, a ceremony was held to celebrate the transfer of the health facility in the presence of the following guests of honor: the Narok County Governor, the Narok County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health and Medical Services, additional Narok County officials, and the representative of Nagasaki University’s Nairobi Research Station based in the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The Narok County Governor stated his commitment to improving the health facility, including upgrading it from a level 2 to a level 3 facility,*2 and continuing to provide a sufficient quantity of medical and medicinal supplies and human resources to support its effective operation, as well as constructing an access road. These measures will be key to sustained community-based operation of the health facility.
Shionogi will continue to contribute to improving access to medical services and enhancing healthcare for mothers and children in Kenya.
* 1: A Christian relief, development and advocacy NGO dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision is officially recognized by and registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and helps children in about 100 countries. (https://www.worldvision.org)
* 2: Upgrading the health facility from level 2 (a health facility) to level 3 (a healthcare center) in the public health system is important because a level 3 facility has more medical personnel and can provide better services with better equipment and medicine.
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