On Saturday, 4th October in South Africa, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa participated in The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2025 Pre-Congress Workshop on Integrating Mental Healthcare into Maternal and Child Health Services, convened by the University of Cape Town’s Perinatal Mental Health Project. The session, chaired by Dr Simone Honikman, highlighted the global imperative of embedding mental health within routine maternal and child health systems, positioning emotional wellbeing as a foundational component of comprehensive, high-quality care.

Representing the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and the Wellbeing Africa Institute for Research and Development, Zelia Bukhari, Director of Global Health Policy and Advocacy at The Toyin Saraki Global Policy & Philanthropy Office, presented the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s validated Postpartum Mental Health Checklist.

A practical tool integrated within the Nigerian national Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook to systematically screen and support women for psychological distress and mood disorders following childbirth, this checklist is strengthening the continuum of care from pregnancy through the postnatal period, ensuring that no mother’s emotional health is overlooked.

Drawing upon WHO’s 2022 Guide for Integrating Perinatal Mental Health into Maternal and Child Health Services and the Perinatal Mental Health Project’s model of task-sharing, routine screening, and holistic referral pathways, the workshop showcased the transformative potential of system-wide integration.

Looking ahead, Wellbeing Africa Institute for Research and Development (WAIRD) will continue to engage with the University of Cape Town and regional partners to explore collaborative avenues for advancing emotional wellbeing indicators across continental maternal health policy dialogues.