Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook – Born in Japan, Flourishing around the World

This event is organized by the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto and Munk School of Global Affairs.


The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook was created in Japan about 69 years ago. Because the MCH Handbook promotes the continuum of maternal and child health care by improving MCH services without high-technology medical equipment, 39 countries and areas have introduced the MCH Handbook in their health programs. Many studies revealed the evidence of the impact of MCH Handbook. The MCH Handbook is an indispensable tool to crystallize the idea of leaving no one behind. Each country or region has its own culture and customs. We should respect the worth of culture, share good practices and lessons learned, and promote the MCH Handbook for the benefit of larger populations. We hope strongly that the MCH Handbook will contribute to the happy and healthy lives of mothers, children and families around the world!

Dr. NAKAMURA Yasuhide is a Professor of School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Konan Women’s University, Professor Emeritus of Osaka University, President of Japan Association for International Health (JAIH), and the representative of International Society of Volunteer Studies. After he graduated from The University of Tokyo, and worked as a pediatrician at Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital, he started global health to encourage maternal and child health in Indonesia as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert and to promote refugee health program in UNHCR Pakistan Office.