Protecting mothers and newborns: PROTECT at the WHS Regional Meeting
On 28 April, PROTECT participated in a high-level session at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting in Nairobi, titled 'From innovation to impact: Strengthening Africa’s health research ecosystems for better public health'. Organised by Global Health EDCTP3, the session brought together representatives from EU-funded projects, highlighting early findings and discussing how new approaches can create sustainable change when integrated into national health research systems.
Dr Angela Koech from the Aga Khan University presented PROTECT’s approach to strengthening the hospitals’ preparedness for maternal vaccines in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Uganda. She spoke about the impact PROTECT is already seeing through establishing a pregnancy registry for assessment of vaccine safety, establishing Group B Streptococcus disease surveillance in sentinel sites, and developing communication toolkits to build vaccine confidence. These foundations, emphasised Dr Koech, will be key in ensuring timely and equitable protection for mothers and newborns across Africa.
Throughout the session, the speakers reflected on their work in Global Health EDCTP3 projects focusing on implementation research, vaccine optimisation, digital health solutions, and capacity development. The inspiring session made it clear that individual projects can spark significant change, strengthening research systems and improving health outcomes.
