GHTM

Global Health and Tropical Medicine

  • GHTM
    • About GHTM
    • Governance
    • Impact
    • Members
      • Population health, policies and services
        • PPS PhD members
        • PPS non PhD members
      • TB, HIV and opportunistic diseases and pathogens
        • THOP PhD members
        • THOP non PhD members
      • Vector-borne diseases
        • VBD PhD members
        • VBD non PhD members
      • Individual Health Care
        • IHC PhD members
        • IHC non PhD members
      • Tech & Admin support
    • Scientific Advisory Board
  • Research
    • Cross-cutting issues
      • Global Pathogen Dispersion and Population Mobility
      • Drug Discovery and Drug Resistance
      • Diagnostics
      • Public Health Information
      • Fair Research Partnerships
    • Research Groups
      • PPS – Population health, policies and services
      • THOP – TB, HIV and opportunistic diseases and pathogens
      • VBD – Vector borne diseases
      • IHC – Individual health care
    • Research in numbers
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
    • Projects
      • Ongoing Projects
      • Completed Projects
  • Outreach
    • Events
    • News
    • Policy Support & Community Outreach
  • Publications
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
  • Capacity Building
    • Education
      • Master Theses
      • PhD Theses
    • International
  • Infrastructures
  • Networks & Partnerships
  • Reports
    • GHTM
    • Scientific Advisory Board
    • FCT
Home / News / Advancing Maternal and Neonatal Health in São Tomé and Príncipe: GHTM’s December 2024 Mission

Advancing Maternal and Neonatal Health in São Tomé and Príncipe: GHTM’s December 2024 Mission

January 24, 2025

Dr. Alexandra de Castro Vasconcelos, a GHTM researcher and member of the IHC – Individual Health Care Group, led an impactful mission in São Tomé and Príncipe in December 2024, dedicated to optimizing maternal and neonatal health across the country.

The mission aimed to address critical challenges such as reducing maternal, neonatal, and perinatal mortality rates and tackling adolescent pregnancy. This initiative underscores GHTM | IHMT-NOVA’s unwavering commitment to empowering and strengthening health systems in Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP). By aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering international cooperation, the mission represents a significant step toward sustainable health outcomes.

Key Highlights and Objectives of the Mission

  1. Engagement with Health Authorities
    Proposals for improving maternal and neonatal health, along with adolescent reproductive health, were presented during meetings with doctors, nurses, and leadership from Dr. Ayres de Menezes Hospital and the Ministry of Health.
  2. Collaboration with Maternal-Child Health Professionals
    The mission facilitated collaboration between healthcare professionals to design and implement measures aimed at supporting pregnant women and newborns, fostering a shared vision for improved care delivery.
  3. Introducing Future Projects for 2025-2027
    Proposals for upcoming projects were shared, including the adoption of the Kangaroo Method, a technique promoting skin-to-skin contact for preterm infants, and the optimization of the Neonatal Care Unit.

Building Momentum for Change

During the mission, Dr. Alexandra de Castro Vasconcelos conducted presentations and facilitated discussions with health professionals at Dr. Ayres de Menezes Hospital, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and UNICEF. These dialogues focused on practical strategies to advance maternal and neonatal health in São Tomé and Príncipe.

The mission culminated in an agreement to schedule an official meeting with the country’s Minister of Health to finalize and implement the proposed measures, ensuring alignment with the mission’s objectives and long-term health goals.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

About GHTM

GHTM is a R&D Unit that brings together researchers with a track record in Tropical Medicine and International & Global Health. It aims at strengthening Portugal's role as a leading partner in the development and implementation of a global health research agenda. Our evidence-based interventions contribute to the promotion of equity in health and to improve the health of populations.

Contacts

Rua da Junqueira, 100
1349-008 Lisboa
Portugal

+351 213 652 600

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Map

  • Events
  • Research Groups
  • Cross-cutting issues
© Copyright 2025 IHMT-UNL All Rights Reserved.
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

    UIDB/04413/2020
    UIDP/04413/2020

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok