Release
2022/03/16
OSAKA, Japan, March, 16, 2021 - Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (hereafter "Shionogi") and World Vision Japan (hereafter "WVJ") announced the results of the first term of the "Mother to Mother SHIONOGI Project" (hereinafter referred to as "the project")1, which started in October 2015 to support the health of mothers and children in Africa.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on international society. Amid such circumstances, the access to healthcare in developing countries is becoming increasingly difficult. In the Republic of Kenya, the maternal mortality rate and the under-five mortality rate are 68 times2 and 22 times2 higher, respectively, than in Japan, and there are still many challenges to be addressed in order to achieve Goal 3 of the SDGs. Specific efforts toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC) are also required.
The Project has been implemented in Ilaramatak, Narok County, Republic of Kenya. The Ilaramatak area is home to nomadic Maasai people. There were many challenges, such as the lack of health facilities and medical services, the lack of knowledge about health and sanitation among local residents, and the prevailing practice of home delivery. In an effort to address these challenges, the Project built healthcare facilities and water supply infrastructure in order to improve the water and hygiene environment and also provided education to local health personnel and residents. As a result of these activities, more Maasai people now understand the importance of healthcare services, and the average annual number of people visiting health facilities has increased by 1.8 times compared to when the Project started. In addition, from 2018, WVJ and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University collaboratively conducted an epidemiological survey for improving the health and development of children under five years old and the health of expectant and breastfeeding mothers. The results of the survey showed that the Project contributed to improving the health of mothers and children through its comprehensive interventions in health, nutrition and early childhood education, as well as the focus on improving of the water hygiene environment.
[Results of the Project]
1. Improved access to maternity/post-natal medical services
The rate of delivery *a at health facilities including assistance of professional technicians increased by 12 times. The full vaccination3 rate*a of infants from 12 months to 23 months also improved.
2. Improved water hygiene environment and sanitation
With construction of water supply facilities, the number of households with access to well water in the dry season quadrupled from 9% to 36%.*b In addition, hygiene education has improved sanitation practices, with E. coli detection frequency in water sources and surrounding households decreasing by 82%,*b and the exclusive breastfeeding rate increasing by 1.2 times from 65% to 78%.*b
3. Summary
Comprehensive interventions in health, nutrition and early childhood education with emphasis on the improvement of the water hygiene environment led to improvements in children’s diarrhea rate (from 28% to 12%*b), stunting rate (from 37% to 30%*b) and wasting rate (from 25% to 15%*b).
Sources: World Vision Project Evaluation Results (a), Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University Research Survey Results (b)
The results of the epidemiological survey conducted under the Project are scheduled to be published,4 and it is expected that they will be applied in Kenya's maternal and child health policies and projects in the future.
The Second Term Project, which started in April 2020, is supporting three health facilities in Kilifi County, the Republic of Kenya.5 With the aim of providing stable healthcare services, it is planned to install a solar power generation system at one of those three facilities, the Rima Ra Pera Health Facility, with the cooperation of the LIGHT UP THE FUTURE Project6 undertaken by Panasonic Corporation.
The Project will continue working to improve medical access and achieve UHC in Kenya by utilizing the respective strengths of each organization involved in the cross-sector partnership.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations in light of the information currently available, assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Risks and uncertainties include general domestic and international economic conditions such as general industry and market conditions, and changes of interest rate and currency exchange rate. These risks and uncertainties particularly apply with respect to product-related forward-looking statements. Product risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion and discontinuation of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; claims and concerns about product safety and efficacy; technological advances; adverse outcome of important litigation; domestic and foreign healthcare reforms and changes of laws and regulations. Also for existing products, there are manufacturing and marketing risks, which include, but are not limited to, inability to build production capacity to meet demand, lack of availability of raw materials and entry of competitive products. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For Further Information, Contact:
SHIONOGI Website Inquiry Form : https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/contact.html
World Vision Japan
Communication Officer：Shiho Ichimayama (Ms.)市山志保
【Phone】03-5334-5356 【Email】shiho_ichiyama@worldvision.or.jp
About Shionogi
Shionogi’s key focus and commitment is to improve access to healthcare. We are working toward activities such as contributing to improving access to AMR treatment and supporting maternal and child health in Africa. We will expand our network of collaborations with external partners and continue to provide new value, offering innovative solutions for the unmet healthcare needs of patients and society.
For more information, please visit: https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/
About World Vision/World Vision Japan
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. World Vision Japan (WVJ) was founded in 1987 as one of the support offices in the WV Partnership, and is located in Nakano-ku, Tokyo.
For more information, please visit: https://www.worldvision.jp/info/e-about-wvj.html
References
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. The State of the World's Children 2021 On My Mind: Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health.(UNICEF)
3. Types of vaccination: BCG, oral polio vaccine, DPT vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, measles / rubella vaccine
4. Wandera et al. IMPACT OF INTEGRATED WATER, SANITATION, HYGIENE, HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS ON DIARRHOEA BURDEN AND AETIOLOGY IN A RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED SETTING IN KENYA: A CONTROLLED INTERVENTION STUDY
Tropical Medicine and International Health (submitted))
5. 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
Panasonic Corporation “LIGHT UP THE FUTURE” Project https://www.panasonic.com/jp/corporate/sustainability/citizenship/solution/power.html