The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp (ITM,A) is an academic institution which purpose is to carry out and promote research, education and services mainly in the fields of tropical medicine and health care in low and middle income countries (LMIC). ITM,A commits to promoting women and children's health through engaging in the training of the current and next generation of global health professionals, conducting research for reducing suffering and death from health problems and contributing to policy development. Every academic year, with financial support from Belgian cooperation, we train 12 participants from low and middle-income countries (LMIC) in a full MPH course in Reproductive Health, and a further 6 participants in a 2-month short course in Reproductive Health; and we will recruit and coach two PhD candidates on a maternal and neonatal/child health topic. By 2012, ITM,A commits to setting up a new Research Center in Women's & Child Health. It will involve more than 15 highly experienced researchers coming from various disciplines such as obstetrics, pediatrics, public health, social sciences. This new center will focus on evidence-based interventions for reducing morbidity and mortality of women and children and on maternal and children health policy evaluation research.

By promoting research, education and services in the field of tropical medicine and health care in low and middle income countries. ITM,A will also help to set up a new Research Center in Women's & Child's Health.