Benguela is making progress in maternal health thanks to the CHANCE project and the collaboration with Vall d'Hebron

The province of Benguela hosted on November 24 and 25, 2025, a specialized training in Perinatal Mental Health, integrated within the CHANCE project (Strategies to improve the knowledge and attitudes of young Angolans regarding sexual and reproductive health), funded by the European Union. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Women for Africa Foundation and UNED, and adds to the ongoing work of the Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Infectious Diseases Group of VHIR in Angola, where they have maintained a solid trajectory of cooperation in global health since 2007.

The training is part of the project Perinatal Mental Health in Angolan Hospitals, initially launched in Ghana and later replicated in the province of Huila. Its arrival in Benguela marks a new stage aimed at strengthening the capacities of healthcare personnel and community actors to improve the detection, diagnosis, and support of women with mental health disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This effort reflects a model of interdisciplinary collaboration among research centers, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, essential to sustainably address the challenges of maternal health.

Benguela, one of the most populated provinces of Angola, faces significant challenges in maternal and child health. Some areas show neonatal and child mortality rates among the highest in the country, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen perinatal services and community support networks. The implementation of this training directly contributes to expanding the healthcare system’s ability to respond to perinatal disorders and their impact on mothers and infants.

The course, delivered using UNED’s methodology, brought together more than 50 Angolan professionals, including nurses, midwives, community health workers, representatives of social organizations, and provincial officials in mental health and sexual and reproductive health. Throughout the sessions, topics such as perinatal depression, adolescent pregnancy, mother–infant bonding, puerperal psychosis, and early identification of perinatal disorders were addressed, offering practical tools based on scientific evidence to improve both professional and community support.

This phase of the project has been made possible thanks to the support of the CHANCE project, coordinated by the Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Infectious Diseases Group of VHIR, as well as the local collaboration of the Community Interaction Organization (OIC), the Youth Association for Solidarity (AJS), and the Youth Support Centers (CAJ). Cooperation among scientific, academic, and community actors is reaffirmed as a key element in generating lasting change in Angolan public health.

The Perinatal Mental Health in Angolan Hospitals project aims to contribute to improving the country’s maternal and child health by promoting the integration of perinatal mental health as an essential part of healthcare and strengthening sustainable community support systems that benefit mothers, families, and communities.