Launch of Perinatal Mental Health Training at the Irene Neto Maternity Hospital in Angola
October 31, 2024. Yesterday, an intensive two-day online training in perinatal mental health began at the Irene Neto Hospital in Huila Province, Angola. This initiative, organized in collaboration with the National University of Distance Education (UNED), aims to train 40 healthcare professionals in critical maternal mental health topics to improve the quality of care during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
During the sessions, healthcare professionals will delve into essential topics such as perinatal depression and anxiety, mother-child attachment, postpartum psychosis, safe pharmacological use, perinatal loss, and safe breastfeeding practices. Additionally, intervention protocols and practical strategies for the detection and treatment of these issues are offered, addressing significant challenges in maternal and child health in the region. Staff have also learned communication strategies to sensitively address perinatal loss, along with tools to help them manage their own emotions when dealing with difficult cases, promoting an empathetic and professional approach.
The online format allows us to overcome geographical barriers, enabling UNED instructors to train professionals in Angola from Spain. The trainers have successfully created a highly interactive learning environment, combining presentations, discussion sessions, and practical exercises that encourage active participation from attendees.
Context and Relevance of the Project in Angola
Angola, a country in sub-Saharan Africa with a recent history marked by decades of civil war, still faces enormous challenges in its healthcare system. Health infrastructure was severely damaged during the conflict, and although medical care has advanced over the past few decades, maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the world, with 199 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. In Huila Province, where this training takes place, only 30% of births occur in healthcare facilities, and factors such as extreme poverty, lack of access to medical services, and recurring droughts have worsened the situation.
Mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period has been a deeply neglected area. In many cases, mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and grief, are neither diagnosed nor adequately treated. These issues not only affect the well-being of mothers but also impact the development of newborns, contributing to health challenges such as low birth weight or premature births.
Project Objectives and Beneficiaries
This project seeks to strengthen Angola’s healthcare system by training health professionals in critical areas of maternal and neonatal mental health. The direct beneficiaries are 40 professionals from Irene Neto Hospital and rural health centers in the region, including midwives, obstetricians, and medical personnel in direct contact with pregnant women and those in the postnatal period.
