UHTC to open special breastfeeding childcare centres in Tanga

TANGA: WORKING mothers in Tanga may soon find relief from the difficult decision of leaving their newborns in the care of housemaids, relatives, or neighbours.

This follows plans by a local organisation, United Help for Tanzania Children (UHTC), to establish special childcare centres near workplaces—enabling mothers to breastfeed during working hours and supporting child health from birth.

The initiative falls under UHTC’s broader project, Transforming Early Childhood Development through Community-based Solutions, which promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years, in line with WHO and UNICEF recommendations.

The project is supported by the Tanga Yetu Initiative, funded by the Swiss-based Foundation Botnar. The move comes amid concerns about suboptimal breastfeeding practices in Tanga.

According to City Nutrition Officer Pendo Majengo, only 69 per cent of infants under six months in the region are currently breastfed—far below the national target of 80 per cent. This gap highlights the pressing need for stronger community and workplace support systems.

“Mothers want to do what’s best for their babies, but the current environment makes it difficult,” said Majengo.

“Without structural support like nearby care centres or flexible policies, many mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended.” UHTC Manager Dr Samuel Mturu echoed this concern during the launch of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in Tanga.

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“Maternity leave is limited to just three months, while health guidelines call for exclusive breastfeeding for six. This mismatch forces many mothers to choose between their jobs and their babies’ nutrition,” he said.

To bridge that gap, UHTC plans to open two pilot centres—one near the Tanga City Council headquarters and another in a busy market area. These centres will allow mothers to breastfeed during breaks and will also accommodate caregivers who accompany the children.

The facilities will be staffed by trained professionals, selected in collaboration with the City Council and local communities, ensuring culturally appropriate and responsive care. Beyond improving breastfeeding rates, the project also aims to boost early childhood development outcomes across the region.

According to UHTC Director Dr Regis Temba, just 46 per cent of children aged 0–8 in Tanga have achieved full growth, meaning over half of children are developmentally delayed, a statistic he calls “alarming.”

“Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life is critical,” Dr Temba said.

“By improving breastfeeding rates and providing quality early care, we can start to reverse this trend.” The centres will initially be established in wards where UHTC’s predecessor—United Help for International Children (UHIC)—previously ran “Keeper Rooms.” These were first launched in 2013 to offer community-based child health services, including monthly doctor visits, disability care, hygiene education and nutritional support.

Although many of these Keeper Rooms have since gone idle, UHTC plans to renovate and upgrade nine of them into modern Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, complete with play areas, learning tools and basic health services.

During the launch event, Tanga City Medical Officer Dr Stephen Mwandambo, speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner, encouraged the City Council to establish its own care centre to support employees and set an example for other workplaces.

UHTC hopes that, with community backing and strategic partnerships, the model will scale beyond the pilot phase— offering a long-term solution to improve child nutrition and maternal well-being across the region.

“This is not just about convenience,” said Dr Mturu. “It’s about giving every child the best possible start in life—and giving mothers the support they need to make that happen.”