On March 4-5, 2026, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), in partnership with the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), the Countdown to 2030 Initiative, the University of Zimbabwe, the Global Financing Facility (GFF), UNICEF, UNFPA, the Zimbabwe Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Paediatric Association of Zimbabwe, and the Health Resilience Fund will hold the inaugural Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Conference 2026 in Harare.

Under the theme, “Ending Preventable Maternal and Perinatal Mortality: Lessons Learned and Future Directions”, the conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collective action to eliminate preventable maternal and child mortality. Participants will discuss health interventions that bridge the gaps in socioeconomic status, gender, education and geography while addressing foundational drivers of change, from policy and financing to comprehensive health system transformation.

Register to attend the conference here.

We invite those interested in sharing their study results and work on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations. The abstracts should align with the following thematic areas.

• Sub-theme 1: Evaluating Successful RMNCAH+N Health Interventions
• Sub-theme 2: Importance of Data in RMNCAH+N Health Strategies
• Sub-theme 3: Building Resilience in RMNCAH+N Healthcare Systems
• Sub-theme 4: Community-Based Approaches to RMNCAH+N Healthcare
• Sub-theme 5: Social Determinants of RMNCAH+N

Your research must be approved by the relevant IRB. The word count is 400 words excluding title, authors’ names, affiliations, contact details and references.

Please specify the category of your abstract and adhere to the respective format when submitting your abstracts:

Category A – Classical Scientific Research

This is suitable for research conducted in all disciplines. Abstracts submitted under Category A should contain concise statements of:

• Thematic Area: (RMNCAH+N)
• Title: (Name of the study)
• Author(s): (SURNAME, other names/initial, e.g., Ndebele, Mathias W.) – Underline presenting author
• Email address and phone number of the corresponding author
• Background: Brief description of the problem being researched, the purpose and objectives of the study
• Methods: Brief description of study setting/location, design, population, data collection and methods of analysis used.
• Results: Clearly present the key findings/outcome of the study, with specific results in summarized form
• Conclusion:  Discuss in brief the data and main outcome of the study and indicate the significance of the findings to the RMNCAH+N programs
• References: (Maximum of 2 in APA style)

Category B – Other Research Work and Best Practices

This is suitable for lessons learnt through programme, project or policy implementation or management. Abstracts submitted under Category B should contain concise statements of:

• Thematic Area: (RMNCAH+N)
• Title:  (Name of the Issue/best practice/intervention).
• Author(s): (SURNAME, other names/initial, e.g., Mauwa, Mathias W.) – Underline presenting author.
• Email address and phone number of the corresponding author
• Background: Summarize the purpose, scope and objectives of the programme, project or policy
• Description: Describe the programme, project or policy period, setting and location, structure, key population (if applicable) and activities and interventions undertaken in support of the programme, project or policy
• Lessons learnt: Present as clearly and in as much detail as possible the findings and/or outcomes of the programme, project or policy. Include an analysis or evaluation of lessons learnt and best practices. Please summarize any specific results that support your lessons learnt and best practices
• Conclusions/next steps: Explain the significance of the findings and/or outcomes of the programme, project or policy for RMNCAH+N programs
• Reference: (Maximum of 2 in APA style)

Posters

Space will be provided for the display of posters. Posters shared elsewhere before are accepted. If your abstract is selected for an oral poster presentation, you will receive guidelines on poster preparation.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is February 16, 2026.

Please email abstracts to the following email addresses: rmncahn.2026@gmail.com, cc chipochimamise@gmail.com; emauwa@yahoo.com; clearly marked “RMNCAH+N Conference 2026” in the subject line.

Important Conference Timelines:

• Call for abstracts opens: January 23, 2026
• First reminder:  February 1, 2026
• Second reminder: February 10,  2026
• Deadline for submission of abstracts: February 16, 2026
• Abstract selection process: February 16-23, 2026
• Notification of accepted abstracts: February 23, 2026
• Deadline for full presentation submission: February 27, 2026.