The African Perinatal Society (APS) has called for stronger collaboration among obstetricians, neonatologists, and policymakers to improve maternal, fetal, and newborn health outcomes across Africa.
The call came at the conclusion of the Second International Congress of Ultrasound and Perinatal Medicine, held in Kano, with the theme, “Synergy in Practice: Transforming Perinatal Outcomes Through Obstetrics and Neonatal Partnerships.”
Secretary of the African Perinatal Society, who delivered the congress communique on Friday, August 28, 2026, said the theme was deliberately chosen to address the need for closer collaboration between specialists involved in maternal and newborn care.
According to the society, better coordination between obstetricians and neonatologists would significantly improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
The five-day event, which included pre-congress training sessions, attracted 249 participants and experts from Nigeria, Finland, the United States, Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa, Chad and Sudan.
The congress featured 24 expert presentations, including four delivered virtually, as well as 41 abstract presentations and 10 poster presentations.
The society said eight Nigerian and four foreign facilitators contributed to the scientific sessions, describing their presentations as comprehensive and stimulating, with several generating extensive discussions among participants.
It also disclosed that medical equipment donated by some facilitators was distributed to selected hospitals in need, while frontline healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, radiologists, radiographers and sonologists, received training in critical skills.
The society said the training was expected to strengthen the quality of care provided to pregnant women, mothers and newborns across Nigeria and beyond.
On its plans, the APS announced plans to organise specialist training visits twice a year, with experts expected to spend three days providing training and technical support at no cost.
The specialists, it said, would sponsor their visits, while the society would provide accommodation and basic logistics.
The society also said it expected additional donations of hospital equipment for obstetric and neonatology wards from some of its facilitators.
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It disclosed that discussions were underway with UNICEF and partners from Finland to initiate research, particularly into pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, with a comprehensive proposal to be presented to partners soon.
The APS further announced plans to establish a Pre-eclampsia Research Group and strengthen collaborations with governments, non-governmental organisations and other partners within and outside Nigeria.
The society said the Third International Congress of Ultrasound and Perinatal Medicine would be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2028.
At the end of the congress, participants adopted what they described as the Kano Declaration, outlining key principles for improving perinatal health.
The declaration states, “Pregnancy is not a disease. Every mother, every foetus and every neonate deserves to live and to live in good health.
“To achieve optimal perinatal outcomes, there is a need for synergy between obstetricians and neonatologists, and this should be complemented by policymakers.”
The society expressed appreciation to UNICEF, the Jigawa State Government, Bayero University Kano, Americano Teaching Hospital and other sponsors and partners whose financial, material and logistical support contributed to the success of the congress.
It is also the facilitators, delegates, healthcare professionals and members of the media for their contributions to the five-day event.
