MRC Unit The Gambia will be holding an Open Day at Serekunda Health Centre (SHC) to sensitise the Serekunda community about the new study, PregnAnZI-2 trial. Under the theme; A New Intervention to Improve Maternal and Child Health, the event will take place at the SHC, on Friday, 9th June 2017, at 9:30 am.
The PregnAnZI-2 is a phase III double-blind trial that will assess the effect of one oral dose of azithromycin (an antibiotic) given during labour on neonatal mortality as well as maternal and neonatal severe infections (namely sepsis). The aim of this PregnAnZI-2 trial is to address a global health priority by improving maternal and neonatal health. A former trial - PregnAnZI-1 - showed that azithromycin given to women during labour decreased bacterial colonisation in both the mothers and the babies. Bacterial colonisation is a necessary step for an associated severe disease. The former trial also showed a decrease in infections in both mothers (including mastitis, fever and any infections) and newborns (including skin infections and any infections).

This new trial has been designed to evaluate the effect of the intervention in reducing neonatal mortality. To accomplish this goal, the trial aims to recruit 12,500 women during labour, half of them in The Gambia and the other half in Burkina Faso. The recruitment of study participants is expected to start in August 2017 and will last for approximately three years.

The Open Day ceremony is an exciting opportunity to engage with the community to inform them about this potential new intervention for improvements in maternal and child health. Invitations have been extended to The Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, MRCG staff, SHC staff and the Serrekunda local community.