Cape Town, South Africa – The first biennial International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 8 – 11 May 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference, hosted by the Government of South Africa and AlignMNH – a global initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – will bring together 1,800 delegates from around the world to accelerate solutions to improve maternal and newborn survival and prevent stillbirths in a coordinated and inclusive manner. Media who wish to attend should register at this link.

IMNHC marks an important moment as we get closer to 2030, the end of the globally agreed upon goals for maternal and newborn health and prevention of stillbirths. IMNHC will convene the maternal newborn health community to drive urgent action for the health of mothers and newborns by leading with evidence, sharing effective implementation strategies, reviewing joint progress, and nurturing collaboration and innovation.

The Department of Health, on behalf of the Government of South Africa, is pleased to host this important conference as part of series of interventions towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals targets on reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. This conference will help the country to review country performances in implementing the evidence-based interventions and shared learnings by different member states to accelerate our interventions.

WHAT: Inaugural International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC)
WHEN: Monday 8 to Thursday 11 May 2023. Full schedule available here.
WHO: Participation per invitation only
VISUALS: 1,800 maternal and newborn health stakeholders from around the world working to improve maternal and newborn survival and prevent stillbirths
WHERE: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

Each daymore than 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, more than 5,000 babies are stillborn, and more than 6,400 children under one month old die. A new report published in February 2023 from the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) has us facing the sobering reality that earlier positive trends in the decline in maternal mortality have now stalled on a global level. According to the report, “in the first five years of the SDGs, maternal mortality barely declined, if at all. On current trends more than one million additional maternal deaths will occur by 2030.”

The conference will also serve as an opportunity to launch the first joint progress report from the Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) Initiative and Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), which will help lay the groundwork for further progress, and align the community on the targets, thus serving as an accountability mechanism for future convenings. Coming together at IMNHC 2023, and every two years thereafter, will mark important milestones over the next eight years as we progress to 2030.

For more information on IMNHC 2023 visit imnhc2023.org. A live stream of all plenary sessions will be available for open access here.

For IMNHC media queries and conference media attendance:

Ms Noni Sophe
+27(0)63 348 3308
E-mail: noni@pekuziprojects.africa

Mr Eric Conrad
+19045044318
E-mail: Eric.Conrad@gmmb.com

Mr Foster Mohale
Departmental Spokesperson
National Health Department
+0724323792
E-mail: Foster.mohale@health.gov.za

Mr Doctor Tshwale
Media Liaison Officer for Health Minister
National Health Department
+063 657 8487
E-mail: Doctor.Tshwale@health.gov.za

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About IMNHC 2023

The International Maternal Newborn Health Conference is brought to you by AlignMNH and the Government of South Africa, in collaboration with BMGF, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID and World Bank, and includes the leadership of Governments from around the globe and additional support from partners. The IMNHC is in support of working collectively to achieve the goals of the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) and Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM). The World Health Organization has provided technical guidance in support to the conference.

About AlignMNH

AlignMNH is a global initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development. The initiative was founded in 2020 to accelerate progress in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes and prevent stillbirths around the globe.