Championing Tomorrow’s Health: The Story of CANHENT
In a world where the voices of children and adolescents are often drowned out by the noise of policy debates and adult-centered priorities, the Child and Adolescent Health Network (CANHENT) stands as a beacon of advocacy, collaboration, and change.
Founded on the belief that every child deserves a healthy start and every adolescent deserves a safe transition into adulthood, CANHENT is bridging the gaps that have long hindered access to quality health and developmental support for young people across Africa.
At its core, CANHENT is more than a health initiative — it’s a movement of professionals, advocates, and changemakers united by one mission: to strengthen and implement initiatives that advance maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health within the comprehensive framework of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Nutrition Health (RMNCAH+N).
Through strategic partnerships, evidence-based advocacy, and community engagement, the network works to ensure that proven, life-saving interventions reach every community, clinic, and child — no matter where they are.
What truly sets CANHENT apart is its people-centered approach. The network doesn’t just work for children and adolescents — it works with them by collaborating with communities, government institutions, and global partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), University of Oxford, University of Ibadan, Federal and State Ministries of Health in Nigeria, UNICEF, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), as well as local community health boards and partner NGOs.
Behind every initiative is a clear vision: to build a generation that not only survives but thrives. From championing early childhood care to advancing maternal health and strengthening health systems, CANHENT is committed to building healthier futures for every generation.
Over the years, the network has collaborated with partners across academia, government, and civil society, birthing several landmark initiatives including:
The Antenatal Corticosteroid (ACS) Guideline Development Project — a collaborative effort improving preterm birth outcomes.
The Sick and Small Newborn Care (SSNC) Project at the State Hospital, Oyo — strengthening capacity for neonatal care and emergency response.
Obstetric Ultrasound Training across 10 states — empowering healthcare workers to enhance maternal and fetal health outcomes.
In 2020, a partnership with the University of Oxford facilitated an exchange visit by Prof. Steven Kennedy to deepen research collaboration on maternal and neonatal health.
Additionally, the organization participated in the WHO/BMGF Multicentre Clinical Trial on Simplified Antibiotic Regimens, whose findings now inform WHO recommendations on community-based management of neonatal sepsis — proving that collective action can transform systems.
Through training, policy dialogues, and research dissemination, CANHENT equips health professionals, students, and institutions with the tools to design informed, evidence-driven, and sustainable interventions.
As one of its founders often says:
“Health is not just the absence of disease, it’s the foundation for potential.”
That belief drives everything CANHENT does.
In a time when global health narratives are shifting, CANHENT looks ahead with clarity — building a sustainable framework for long-term impact through:
Digital health innovations for newborn care
Expanded training programs for healthcare providers
Regional collaborations on newborn and adolescent health
Public engagement campaigns that drive awareness and advocacy
Initiatives advancing newborn brain development
All toward creating a future where every mother, child, and adolescent has the chance to live, learn, and lead with dignity.
Because when we invest in their health, we invest in our collective tomorrow.