Updates from the Team
Marking two moments in September
This month, the project acknowledges that September marks two important moments in and across Mozambique and Canada: September 28, International Safe Abortion Day globally, the 2023 theme for which is “Unstoppable Movement: Movement building, solidarity, and...
Project Principal Investigator named Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Fellow
Congratulations, Nazeem Muhajarine! On September 20, 2023, Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine was elected as a Fellow into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Election as a Fellow to the Academy is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian...
Project research moves into high gear
by Nazeem Muhajarine When a university takes on an international development project, it brings numerous assets that allow it to work in partnership with local communities and systems. The ability to generate new knowledge through research that often seeks to be...
Relief for Cyclone Freddy continues – new $15,000 donation from CUPE
In March, the Mozambique Building Fund (MBF), a Canadian charity, launched a fund-raising campaign to help alleviate the suffering caused by Cyclone Freddy, which hit Inhambane province in February. Cyclone Freddy has been described as the longest-lasting and most...
“We Forgot We Were Weak”
Community microprojects are evolving Supporting communities and women’s empowerment A major strategy of the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project is to address the social and economic determinants of health. The Health Committees in each of our 20 partner...
We are not alone
A taste of the global maternal and neonatal health community at the IMNHC in Cape Town Report by Nadege Sandrine Uwamahoro, Maternal Waiting Home Research Co-ordinator We are not just part of a moment; we are part of a movement. From left to right: Horacio,...
Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $15,000 to Cyclone Freddy relief in Mozambique
In April, the United Steelworkers of Canada agreed to donate $15,000 (CAD) to farmers in Inhambane province to purchase seeds to renew crops lost in Cyclone Freddy that hit the province in March this year. The donation is being done through the Mozambique Building...
Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project researchers called to the podium
March 2023 has been a busy month for the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project. Nazeem Muhajarine, Principal Investigator, was visiting the project in Inhambane, Mozambique, as was Nadege Sandrine Uwamohoro, Research Officer leading the realist research...
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day!
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day! Our project joins in celebrating Mozambican women on this important day. Women’s equality is key to women’s maternal and sexual health, and key to a better society for all. This short video captures the strength and vibrancy of...
With our own eyes
Denise Kouri (Project Strategic Advisor) and Don Kossick (Communications and Engagement Advisor) returned last week from a month-long visit to Mozambique. We interviewed them in Saskatoon to catch some highlights of their trip. What was the purpose of your visit?...
March 8 is International Women’s Day!
On March 8 – and every day – the Mozambique–Canada Maternal Health Project raises its voice in solidarity with all women and girls, in all their diversity and strength and courage, all around the world. On International Women’s Day (IWD) this year, we think...
Gender-sensitive, humanized care is key to good maternal health
By Jessie Forsyth with Geromina Gouleau, Project Intern In February, our project carried out a week-long training initiative focusing on the provision of gender-sensitive, humanized care, for 20 health workers and managers from the 7 new health facilities built by...
Project team member appointed to the Order of Canada
Congratulations Don Kossick! In December 2022, Don Kossick was appointed to the Order of Canada -- one of Canada's highest honours. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to our society. Don...
Making Women Safer through Improved Cancer Screening
The Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project is happy to bring 2022 to a close with another successful round of clinical continuing education for women’s health. This time, the aim was to improve breast and cervical cancer prevention in Inhambane province. Health...
Good maternal health care also needs well-trained support staff
Since successfully completing the construction of new health infrastructure – four rural maternity clinics, three large maternity waiting homes and three small maternity waiting homes – the project has been working to make each new health facility a model of...
Project study on maternal waiting homes now published!
We are pleased to share with you the article titled, Understanding maternity waiting home uptake and scale-up within low-income and middle-income countries: a programme theory from a realist review and synthesis, which has now been published in BMJ Global...
September: A focus on women’s experiences and improving gender equality
This month, the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project had a series of exciting highlights related to deepening analysis of women’s maternal experiences and improving gender equality in Inhambane province, Mozambique. MES presentation and policy dialogue...
September 28 is International Safe Abortion Day
September 28 is International Safe Abortion Day. To mark this day, the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project and DPSI, with support from Global Affairs Canada, co-hosted a lively and thoughtful roundtable discussion on safe abortion access and the law...
New hospital equipment for Mozambique Project
New hospital equipment for safe pregnancies and deliveries. Delivering priority hospital equipment and training to the Rural Health Centre in Tevele, Inhamane Province. by Jessie Forsyth, Project Director Over the past month, the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health...
June a month for visits to the Mozambique Maternal Health Project
Nazeem Muhajarine, Horácio Chissaque, Filipa Franco, and António Tanda (front row} in Morrumbene, June 2, 2022. Report by Nazeem Muhajarine The Canada-Mozambique Maternal Health Project had a very busy month, June 2022. The team based in Inhambane saw three visits...
New Local Ambulance in Use! Savanguane, Mozambique
by Don Kossick with Jessie Forsyth Community receiving community ambulance. Last week, the community of Savanguane in Morrumbene District initiated the use of a local ambulance provided by the project. The handover ceremony took place quite close to the new...
April 7th is Mozambican Women’s Day!
The Mozambique Canada Maternal Health program joins in celebrating Mozambican women on this important day. Women’s equality is key to women’s maternal and sexual health, and key to a better society for all. We support women in accessing rights and services for...
Happy International Women’s Day!
Celebrating in Mozambique. On March 8 – and every day – the Mozambique–Canada Maternal Health Project raises its voice in solidarity with all women and girls, in all their diversity and strength and courage, all around the world. On International Women’s Day (IWD)...
A Look Back at 2021
The beginning of a new year brings a look back on the previous one. In 2021, despite pandemic challenges, the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project continued to advance our work. Chambula Youth Health Committee We continued to engage community members in...
Archbishop Desmond Tutu – His Death A Great Loss to the World
Nazeem Muhajarine - The world lost a great man on December 26, 2021 - freedom and justice fighter, moral icon, the people's archbishop, and Nobel laureate. The likes of the reverend Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu come along only once in a generation. When he died on...
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
Today – International Human Rights Day – marks the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. All over the world, organizations and individuals have been raising awareness about the ongoing problem of gender-based violence, urgently...
Canada-Mozambique Maternal Health Project extended to March 2023!
No-cost extension Project/Community Co-Management Meeting in Tevele. Originally scheduled to end in March 2022, our project will now have another year to complete our work. In October 2021, funder Global Affairs Canada (GAC) agreed to a no-cost extension of one...
Dr. Ricardo Trindade – A life dedicated to building community health and civil society
Mozambique recently lost a great force for change. As his close colleague Dr. Antonio Tanda describes, “Ricardo Trindade was a very special man who applied his many skills and his dedication to community health and development, and to a stronger civil society...
Mapping “Care Pathways”
Joint health system-community sessions to support women’s deliveries This month, project coordinators Ruta Massunguine and ArgentinaMunguambe (responsible for education in the community and the health system, respectively) have been busy carrying out sessions in...
Enhancing COVID-19 testing in Mozambique
Report from Jessie Forsyth – Director, Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project Biosafety Cabinet for COVID 19 Testing The Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project is proud to announce that the first COVID-19 testing site in Inhambane province has been set up...
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day!
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day! Our project joins in celebrating Mozambican women on this important day. Women’s equality is key to women’s maternal and sexual health, and key to a better society for all. This short video captures the strength and vibrancy of...
Researchers Under the Scope
Wa sati wa nhenha: Women strengthening health In Mozambique, the Xitswa phrase, "wa sati wa nhenha" means "strong women" or "women's strength". This month, our project was selected for a special U of S podcast episode. Jessie Forsyth and Nazeem Muhajarine were the...
Celebrating International Women’s Day!
2021/03/08 Message from Jessie Forsyth, Project Director, Mozambique On this International Women’s Day, the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project wishes to acknowledge the incredible strength and courage of all the women who are facing the challenges of...
Progress and Prospects during a Pandemic
Presentation to PAW Conference 2021 The Mozambique Canada Maternal Project had an excellent opportunity in early February to present our work at the People Around the World (PAW) 2021 conference, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan. On Feb. 2-3, PAW gathered...
U of S Phd Student has opinion piece published in Mozambique
Savana - a national newspaper of Mozambique Isabelle Dena, a PhD student with Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Sakatchewan, was recently published in Portuguese, in Savana, a national newspaper in Mozambique. The piece was first...
2020 Project Highlights
Like the rest of the world in 2020, our project was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to make many adaptations. Even so, we achieved a lot. These are some of the year’s highlights, drawn from a recent report by Project Director Jessie Forsyth. Tevele...
New year’s calendar from the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project!
At this time of year, the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project has customarily produced a calendar celebrating its previous year’s work in photos. It’s a way of disseminating our messages, while thanking and celebrating our partners through a new year’s...
New health infrastructure: Official openings and new life
December 17th, 2020 marked the beginning of the official openings of all new health infrastructure built by the project. This means that 7 new health facilities – 4 rural health centres and 3 maternity waiting homes, including boreholes, solar electrification...
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
In Mozambique, the period from November 25th to December 10th is focused on Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project is directly involved. Project managers Ruta Massunguine and Argentina Muguambe describe our activities...
Tools and Training for Sexual and Reproductive Health
In the last month, the Project’s continuing education coordinator, Argentina Munguambe, has been holding sessions with health workers who provide sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents (SAAJ). The focus is how to work with adolescents to not only...
New building for maternal health in rural Inhambane: collaboration is key
Inhambane Governor Daniel Francisco Chapo (blue helmet), maternity clinic in construction in Tevele. Photo by Horácio Mandevo. An important part of the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project has been to build infrastructure to support maternal health. Our...
Global Affairs Canada to top up support to fight COVID-19 in Mozambique
Women in community education session. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has just released the following announcement, “Canada is proud to top up its contribution to the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project by $390,000 to support the COVID-19...
7 new community-based microprojects
An interview with Ruta Massunguine. Ruta Massunguine is the community coordinator for the Canada-Mozambique Maternal Health Project. She has led the development of health committees in each of our 20 partner communities, as well as the creation of community-based...
Face masks and COVID in Saskatchewan
by Nazeem Muhajarine and Miles Fahlman Nazeem Muhajarine, PhD, is a social epidemiologist and public health researcher at the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Community Health and Epidemiology; Miles Fahlman is a medical anthropologist who had researched...
Meeting On Line to Address the Challenge of COVID 19 in Mozambique
Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project Team COVID-19 restrictions prevent international and national travel. Like so many other groups, the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project held its most recent management team meeting online. This international meeting...
Why Africa needs to battle unique challenges to keep coronavirus numbers down
This is an excerpt of an article written by Nazeem Muhajarine, Ejemai Eboreime, Jacob Albin Korem Alhassan, and Okikiolu Badejo. April 22, 2020 As the SARS-CoV-2 virus sweeps across the globe, African countries are bracing themselves for grave consequences....
Construction is underway!
By Jessie Forsyth, Project Director Canada-Mozambique Maternal Health Project Construction of a Maternity Clinic in Tevele, Mozambique At such an uncertain time globally, with so many communities facing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the...
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day!
April 7 is Mozambican Women’s Day! Our project joins in celebrating Mozambican women on this important day. Women’s equality is key to women’s maternal and sexual health, and key to a better society for all. This short video captures the strength and vibrancy of...
Mozambique Project Addresses COVID 19
A Message from Nazeem Muhajarine and Jessie Forsyth Mozambique Project office Inhambane - methods to avoid COVID 19 virus Like many other organizations across the world, the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project has identified ways we can respond to the...
Using radio to communicate to rural women and health workers
Using radio to communicate to rural women and health workers Our team in Mozambique is using local radio to inform listeners about good maternal health practice. The following is based on an interview with Argentina Munguambe,...
Report From the Field – Mozambique
From care pathways to community solidarity, our project acts in many ways! Denise Kouri and Don Kossick report from the field in Mozambique, where they are currently visiting the project. Denise: I’m excited to be here working with the Mozambican team. We’re just...
Recent Paper on Global Stillbirth
I am pleased to share with you findings from our recent paper on global stillbirth and social determinants of health published in Scientific Reports (a Nature Science journal). Stillbirth exact a significant personal toll on women who experience it; further, as an...
Nazeem Muhajarine – Distinguished Researcher Award – U of S
by Kirsten McEwen, On Campus News, U of Saskatchewan Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine (PhD) felt his family always wanted him to go into medicine, but he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. “He was a public health inspector for 35 years,” Muhajarine said. “I was...
Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Update
Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project Highlights Blog By Denise Kouri Jessie Forsyth, Director of the Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health project, was recently in Canada. At a meeting of the project’s Canadian associates, she talked about key project...
Mozambique Canada Partnership Featured
Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project Featured in Global Health Forum Community Health and Epidemiology U of S is celebrating its 60th anniversary. One of the major panels during its anniversary program on Oct. 25 was a discussion on Global Health. The...
Working Together To Repair Cyclone Damage
Working Together to Repair Cyclone DamageRecent cyclones in Mozambique have damaged so much – including health facilities. Many Canadians have reached out to help. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW Canada) recently teamed up with the Mozambique Canada Maternal...
No Regrets
Mozambique Blog Post - Written by 2019 MTL Students Making the Links team with the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project team in Inhambane City, Mozambique. Groggy from our 42-day adventure (approximately six “Mozam-weeks”), we said our farewells at O.R. Tambo...
Making the Links Students on the Ground in Mozambique
This is one of the Making the Links, U of S, College of Medicine – Certificate in Global Health students – Savio Nguyen, participating in a Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project activity of building healthy communities. It is taking place...
Introducing Cristina
The Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project is very pleased to have Cristina Rus assume the duties of our long time administrator/finance officer Joanne Blythe who has recently retired after many years of service. Cristina in her own words...
Thank you Joanne!
Joanne Blythe, Administrative Officer for the Mozambique – Canada Maternal Health Project, is retiring from her position after many years of dedicated service to the work of the U of S in Mozambique. Nazeem Muhajarine, Principal Investigator states, “Although we...
Ambulances Support USask Mozambique Project
Ambulances support USask Mozambique projectby Kristen McEwen - On Campus News. For expectant mothers in the African country of Mozambique, reaching medical services could mean walking up to 15 kilometres over sandy and difficult terrain. Two years into the...
Message from Mozambique
Update on Mozambique – Jessie Forsyth – Canadian Director Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project Mozambique has been hit by two major disasters – Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth – in the space of merely 6 weeks. Jessie Forsyth, the Canadian Director for the...
Mozambique Needs Our Support!
Friends, You will have seen the reports and photos about Mozambique last week. Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, along with Zimbabwe and Malawi, causing massive destruction and leaving devastation in its wake. Cyclone Idai has been described as the largest cyclone ever...
Making the Links – Rachel Gough
Rachel Gough Making Links in Mozambique Twelve years ago Rachel Gough was a Making the Links medical student in Mozambique. This was in the beginning stages of the Making the Links exchanges that gave heath science students a chance to work in communities in...
Argentina Munguambe
Profiling a Key Team Member - by Jessie Forsyth Argentina's had a long and lively professional history rooted in various components of oral and community health, as well as a long relationship with Saskatchewan. In 1978/79, she completed her...
Joanne Blythe Receives Global Citizen Award
Joanne Blythe Receives Global Citizen Award! Joanne Blythe, project administrator for the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project, has been named a Global Citizen by the Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation. Jessie Forsyth, Canadian Project...
Ambulances Have Arrived!
Report from Lidia Mondlane, Mozambique Director, Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project, December 21st, 2018 "I am sharing at this moment the images of the delivery of the ambulances, by His Excellency the Governor of the Province of Inhambane, to the...
The Welcomings – Mozambique Community Work
The Welcomings When members of the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project visit communities they are greeted with song and dance. It is to celebrate a working agreement on the various initiatives that the Project would be involved in ranging from helping to...
Building Better Latrines Celebration
This is the great celebration of a training workshop on Building Better Latrines. Building better latrines is one of the micro project...
Gender Equality Key in Reducing Maternal Mortality
Improved sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health for women, adolescent girls, and newborns in 5 districts in Mozambique Project Director Jessie Forsyth of the Mozambique –Canada Maternal Health Project (2017-2022) recently presented at the ...
Midwifery linked to lower odds of birth complications for low-income women
From USask News. October 3, 2018 New research from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) is adding new evidence in support of midwives as a safe option for prenatal care, especially for women who have low socioeconomic...
Project Director on Mozambique National Radio
Project Director on Mozambique National Radio Radio Mozambique, which transmits all over Mozambique , recently did an interview with Dr. Lidia Mondlane, Mozambique Director of the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project. Dr....
Microproject Training Begins
A major strategy of the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project is to address the social and economic determinants of health. A key part of doing this is through the village health committees (Comites de Saude) to organize microprojects that empower women,...
Reflections on Mozambique – Xochitl Hanson Pastran
Mozambique Blog Post—By Xochitl Hanson Pastran. My memories are filled with images of the green, palm-studded countryside and beautiful ocean views of the province of Inhambane, Mozambique, as well as the poverty and gender inequality faced by women there...
VISIT OF THE MOZAMBICAN MINISTER OF HEALTH
VISIT OF THE MOZAMBICAN MINISTER OF HEALTH TO THE PROVINCE OF INHAMBANE Reported by Lídia Mondlane, Mozambique Project Director I recently had the opportunity to be invited to a meeting in Inhambane Province, with the Mozambique Minister of...
Project Post Doc Working With WHO
Post-doctoral fellow Daphne McRae is currently working as an intern in the Department of Maternal, Newborn,Child and Adolescent Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, for July andAugust. While there, she is providing support for...
Near Miss Approach in Mozambique
What separates mothers who die from those who survive? A near-miss approach in Mozambique By Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine What if we can tackle the wicked problem of too many mums dying when giving birth, in sub-Saharan Africa, by focusing not on deaths but on survival?...
Reception at the U of S for Maternal Health Project
A special reception took place on June 8th, 2018 at the University of Saskatchewan to welcome the Mozambique Delegation Drs Lidia Monjane and Antonio Tanda, and to introduce the new Canadian Project Director Jessie Forsyth. The reception was hosted by Principal...
Meeting the Mayor of Saskatoon
Dr. Antonio Tanda, Strategic Advisor to the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project brought greetings from Mozambique to Mayor Charlie Clark. Dr. Tanda talked of how the link between the U of S support for community health and development in Mozambique and ...
Mozambique Delegation to Canada
The Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project is hosting a visit from Dr. Lídia Monjane, National Director of the Project in Mozambique and Dr. António Tanda, Strategic Adviser to the project in Mozambique. Drs. Monjane and Tanda will be working with the...
We Have a New Director!
The Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project is pleased to announce that we will have a new director beginning June 1, 2018. Jessie Forsyth takes over from Denise Kouri, who will be stepping back to a support role. Jessie worked with the project last year as...
Better Latrines – “Latrinas Melhoradas” in Mozambique
Better sanitation is critical to the health of women and children. The Global Citizen – Poor Sanitation threatens Maternal Health – speaks directly to the impact on women and child health,“Water and sanitation are so important when it comes to providing basic health needs for people. It makes poor mothers and children even more susceptible to disease. Health is obviously a primary concern for pregnant women and newborn children”.
Images of engagement – Community workshop in Mozambique
Video clips from a community workshop organized the project. Community participants share the key issues for women's empowerment and a healthy community for women and...
New research partnership makes childbirth safer in Mozambique
An article on our project is now published on The Conversation Canada. See excerpt below, or click here for access to the full article. Although maternal deaths worldwide have decreased by 45 per cent since 1990, about 800 pregnant women still die daily from...
Gerri Dickson in Tevele
Gerri Dickson’s lasting wish was to return to Mozambique, and the village of Tevele, where she had worked so closely with the community over many years. Murray Dickson, Gerri’s partner, fulfilled that wish last month by taking her ashes to be buried there. In a...
Celebrating International Women’s Day – Message from Mozambique
The Canada - Mozambique Maternal Health Projects supports and promotes women's and adolescent girls' sexual, reproductive, and maternal health through strengthened Sexual Reproductive Maternal Health services and direct community engagement in 5 target districts in...
Remembering Sr. Majoote
The people of Massinga in southern Mozambique lost a great community leader when Sr. Lourenço Majoote passed away in December. I remember meeting him 16 years ago in the village of Tevele. I felt immediately welcomed by his big smile. His enthusiasm to better the...
International Development Week
The Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project is proud to join with other groups locally and nationally in International Development Week (IDW) activities in the first week of February. The theme for IDW 2018, ‘Partners for a Better World’, encourages all Canadians...
Launching Our Agenda for Change
The Inhambane-Canada Maternal Health Project has had quite a full last eight months of 2017 in launching our agenda for change. by Denise Kouri, Project Director Our first few months were spent in establishing an operational center in Inhambane City, and bringing...
Training in Mozambique – Inhambane Canada Maternal Health Project
Over the period September to November the Mozambique Canada Maternal Health Project has been very active delivering training programs to increase skills and knowledge about working with communities, confronting issues of gender and building women’s empowerment. In...
Community Development/CED Workshop in Inhambane City
The Community Development/CED workshop in Inhambane City, Mozambique looked at micro projects that would build healthier communities and support the involvement of women. The communities went through a planning process in which they looked at key steps of forming a...
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