Mexico

In Cárdenas, in the State of Tabasco, Eni Foundation supports the improvement of maternal and child health services, contributing to the National Health Program promoted by the Ministry of Health. The aim is to strengthen primary healthcare services at the municipal level, with a special focus on the most vulnerable segments of the population, who lack access to medical care.

Our work began with a short-term project in a context made critical by the Covid-19 pandemic, which placed severe strain on the local healthcare system. Since 2022, our commitment has continued with a medium- and long-term project to strengthen access to primary healthcare services.

We have developed two initiatives in the territory to support communities:

• a short-term project launched following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health of the State of Tabasco in 2021 and concluded in 2022, whose objective was to improve the response to the Covid-19 emergency by providing essential healthcare supplies
• an ongoing medium to long-term initiative dedicated to enhancing Primary Health Care (PHC) services in the Municipality of Cárdenas – undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the State of Tabasco, through Cárdenas Health Jurisdiction, and the Health Service of the Mexican Institute of Social Security for Welfare (IMSS-BIENESTAR), which has joined as a new national stakeholder – reinforcing the Foundation’s pledge to ensure access to fundamental health services for Cárdenas population, with a special focus on maternal and child health.

The improvement to Access to Primary Health Care Services initiative primarily aims to:

• enhance the management capacities of Health Authorities to improve the effectiveness of the healthcare access system
• support key hospital services in Cárdenas to improve their operational capabilities and medical equipment
• strengthen the health infrastructure, to improve the network of Primary Health Care services
• promote information and awareness campaigns, in line with federal and state strategies in the health sector
• support the implementation of complementary interventions, including the construction and upgrading of health facilities, educational programs for health professionals, digital solutions for health information services, and the provision of medical and technical devices and equipment.

An overview of the impact of the projects and the various stages involved in the construction of the health and training centres supported by the foundation, through a selection of videos.

The different areas of our lines of action.

In healthcare infrastructure improvement:

• Cárdenas Training Center: construction completed and facility inaugurated in July 2025
• Ojoshal Health Center: construction completed and facility inaugurated in July 2026
• Cárdenas Regional Vaccinology Center: refurbishment completed and facility inaugurated in July 2026
• Pailebot Health Center: refurbishment and expansion works commenced in October 2025 and are expected to be completed by Q3 2026.

In capacity building:

• 5 master’s programs in Epidemiology
• 120 participants in the Diploma in Public Health
• 20 participants in the Diploma in Leadership and Healthcare Management
• 350 healthcare workers trained each month, from July 2023 to March 2026.

In health information systems:

• internet coverage activated for all 43 health centers in Cárdenas from November 2023 to March 2026.

In medical and technical equipment:

• medical equipment and furnishings were delivered to Cárdenas General Hospital in 2023
• ICT equipment provided 81 health units in the jurisdiction in 2023
• medical equipment and furnishings were delivered to support vector control, nutrition and epidemiological surveillance services in 2026.

The project will directly benefit 350 people and indirectly reach an estimated 278,584 people.

For the General Hospital of Cárdenas, and other centers in the Municipality, Eni Foundation has carried out the following interventions, paying particular attention to mothers and children:

• supporting Covid-19 specialist services and supply of essential health material such as antigen tests, gloves, protective visors, antibacterial gel and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• improving Epidemiological Surveillance, with the provision of new ICT equipment, to optimize data management and patient notifications
• strengthening vaccination services through the provision of photovoltaic refrigerators to selected health centers, and the rehabilitation of the Cárdenas Regional Vaccinology Center, enhancing local capacity for the safe storage, management and distribution of vaccines
• enhancing the management capacities of Health Authorities through the construction of a dedicated facility for continuous medical training
• strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure through the construction of a fully equipped and operational Health Center in Ejido Ojoshal, improving access to essential healthcare services for the local community.