{"id":26,"date":"2025-09-30T09:17:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:00:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T13:00:35","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide has-accent-5-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:20px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a47635cc7930&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full has-custom-border wp-lightbox-container\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"392\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/image-9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-103\" style=\"border-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/image-9.png 602w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/image-9-300x195.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"border-radius:20px;min-height:120px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"526\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-91\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/barkcloth_lead.webp\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/barkcloth_lead.webp 900w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/barkcloth_lead-300x175.webp 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/barkcloth_lead-768x449.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Globally, there are high rates of death among pregnant women and new-born babies due to poor quality of care. Reviewing deaths of mothers and babies helps health workers, governments and community members to identify and solve issues in access and quality of care. This process, known as Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), can reduce deaths by a third. In many countries, MPDSR has not had the expected impact due to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>weak health systems with poor leadership<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>exclusion of communities from the process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>insufficient resources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lack of training<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Fear of blame and punishment discourages people from reporting deaths or providing complete information, so discussions do not address the main issues, and the necessary actions are not taken. Lack of change demotivates health workers and communities. More evidence is needed on how to build a cost-efficient, acceptable MPDSR process, adapted and integrated within local country health systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-74d6d6fe wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:20px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-884e6acaec4c7d460640bdd167b79d94\">Opti-MaP is a four-year project funded by the UK\u2019s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It aims to improve reporting, review and response to deaths of mothers and babies in Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda, and to evaluate the effect of doing this on death rates of babies. We will work with community members and stakeholders in Uganda, Ghana, and Ethiopia to study how deaths of mothers and babies are currently identified, reported and reviewed, and what changes are made in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-3-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-67cffedb98c496607b493e7d0e277e33\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">Phase 1 (2024-2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-cf6e6d70c6a55cd997251e2d17915484\">\n<li>in-depth research on current MPDSR practices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>developing tools to address the main barriers to MPDSR implementation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-3-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-0f8d0ee5816aab7a84947a44dbd12d45\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">Phase 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d021c75a15e3636bd28fe1a20d6429df\">\n<li>each country team will create an \u201cintervention package\u201d based on the tools we have developed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-3-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-c9a77d4d48c175e9c3ded75e04bd653d\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">Phase 3 (2026-2028)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c8a6517512d152a3928514fe67cfe02c\">\n<li>testing the effectiveness of our packages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>introducing the package into three districts in each country, starting at different times<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>counting deaths of women and babies before and during implementation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-10e6e10af3d3d4563d3c921aaab88d31\">If this approach reduces deaths, and is cost-effective, we will support countries in scaling it up and our materials will be made available online. This will help to reduce preventable deaths and improve quality of care for women and their babies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"border-radius:20px;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:197px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"657\" height=\"518\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-88 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/Gabi-pattern-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/Gabi-pattern-2.jpg 657w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2025\/10\/Gabi-pattern-2-300x237.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#9b8a7c\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a47635cca0c2&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full has-custom-border wp-lightbox-container\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-227\" style=\"border-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/OptiMaP_Kampala_2024-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-accent-5-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7524b721 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:20px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">This project is led by the University of Southampton,<br>in proud collaboration with universities across Africa and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-75815986 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uct.ac.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2362\" height=\"352\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/184061_183828_rsz_uct_logo_horizontal_blue_large.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-219\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.haramaya.edu.et\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1392\" height=\"253\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Haramaya-university-long.png\" alt=\"Haramya university - Building the basis for development\" class=\"wp-image-212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Haramaya-university-long.png 1392w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Haramaya-university-long-300x55.png 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Haramaya-university-long-1024x186.png 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Haramaya-university-long-768x140.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1392px) 100vw, 1392px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lumc.nl\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"152\" src=\"http:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Leiden.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Leiden.png 600w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Leiden-300x76.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-75815986 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-container-content-574e1f9d\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lstmed.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1281\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/LSTM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/LSTM.png 1281w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/LSTM-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/LSTM-1024x409.png 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/LSTM-768x307.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1281px) 100vw, 1281px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ug.edu.gh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1526\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/University-of-Ghana-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/University-of-Ghana-1.png 1526w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/University-of-Ghana-1-300x92.png 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/University-of-Ghana-1-1024x314.png 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/02\/University-of-Ghana-1-768x236.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1526px) 100vw, 1526px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.must.ac.ug\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1027\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Must-logo-words-alt2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Must-logo-words-alt2.png 1027w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Must-logo-words-alt2-300x88.png 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Must-logo-words-alt2-1024x299.png 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/537\/2026\/01\/Must-logo-words-alt2-768x224.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1027px) 100vw, 1027px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Globally, there are high rates of death among pregnant women and new-born babies due to poor quality of care. Reviewing deaths of mothers and babies helps health workers, governments and community members to identify and solve issues in access and quality of care. This process, known as Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5669,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5669"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":492,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/optimap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}