World Health Organization

About the Programme

The RMNCAHA (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Healthy Ageing) Programme supports Member States in the WHO African Region in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating policies, strategies, guidelines, and plans for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, as well as the health and wellbeing of older people. The programme ensures universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, and promotes healthy ageing toward the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in the WHO African Region.

Strategic Framework

The programme operates within the framework of:

• Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (GSWCAH) 2016-2030
• Decade of Healthy Ageing 2016-2030

Key Functions

The programme supports Member States by:

• Developing robust policies, strategies, guidelines, and plans aimed at reducing maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent mortality
• Promoting the health and wellbeing of older persons guided by WHO recommended norms and standards
• Providing technical assistance for building Member State capacity to implement national policies for improving maternal, neonatal, newborn, child, and adolescent health
• Increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services and healthy ageing interventions
• Supporting social mobilization at country level
• Defining the regional RMNCAHA research and innovations agenda to generate evidence
• Strengthening RMNCAHA strategic information systems for surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation
• Conducting high-level advocacy and strengthening partnerships
• Coordinating with key partners and stakeholders to promote harmonized approaches and increased resources

Overall Goal

Enable countries in the WHO African Region to develop and implement evidence-based policies, strategies, and programmes that reduce mortality and morbidity in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health while promoting healthy ageing and universal health coverage.