A reproductive health validation team from Togo, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger conferred in Accra to develop integrated tools for maternal, neonatal and infant health. The group would use the tools to facilitate the treatment of pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria to reduce neonatal and infant deaths. Dr Aboubacry Thiam, Principal Technical Advisor on Child health of the Action for West Africa Region Two (AWARE II) told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria are the major childhood illnesses that leads to mortalities. He said after the workshop the participants were expected to organise training for health providers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at the country level on the use of the tools. Madam Fatimata Diabate, Senior Technical Advisor on Family Planning and Natural Health of AWARE II Project said the participants would be involved in country-based distribution of contraceptives so as to increase family planning awareness. The meeting was facilitated by Action for West Africa Region (AWARE II). Engender Health, Managing Partner of AWARE 11 supported a five-year initiative funded by United States Agency for International Development to improve reproductive and maternal and child health services across 21 countries in West Africa. AWARE 11 aims to improve health outcomes at the national and local levels throughout West Africa, using high impact and proven strategies and integrated approaches to address the limited access to healthcare and low quality services. Source: GNA