TRAMEPRO urges action on maternal, child health

ARUSHA: AS Tanzania joins the world in marking the climax of World Breastfeeding Week, the Tanzania Organisation for Traditional Medicine and Environmental Protection (TRAMEPRO) has called for increased investment in maternal healthcare, nutrition, clean water and sanitation to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths.

TRAMEPRO Secretary General, Mr Boniventura Mwalongo, said stronger investment in maternal and child health is critical to building healthier families and a productive population.

He called for increased funding to expand maternal healthcare services, recruit more midwives and health workers, strengthen nutrition and immunisation programmes, improve access to clean water and sanitation, and support research into safe traditional medicine.

“We urge the government to continue investing in maternal healthcare services while strengthening nutrition, immunisation, water and sanitation programmes to protect mothers and children,” Mr Mwalongo said.

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He told the ‘Daily News’ that World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from August 1 to 7, is commemorated globally by governments, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and other partners to promote the importance of breastfeeding.

Mr Mwalongo said the campaign has become an important platform for raising awareness of the life-saving benefits of breast milk, improving maternal health, reducing child malnutrition and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said Tanzania records between 2.2 million and 2.4 million live births annually, while Africa records about 50 million births, yet the continent continues to face high maternal and newborn mortality rates.

He urged communities to ensure pregnant women receive timely healthcare services and that infants are exclusively breastfed during their first six months, in line with WHO recommendations.

Mr Mwalongo identified severe bleeding, pregnancy-induced hypertension, infections, prolonged labour, unsafe abortion and delays in accessing healthcare as the leading causes of maternal deaths.

He also called on traditional medicine practitioners, traditional birth attendants and professional midwives to adhere to legal requirements, professional ethics and scientific evidence when providing services.

“We should not recommend traditional medicines whose safety for pregnant women and children has not been scientifically approved. Collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and healthcare professionals is vital in protecting mothers and children,” he said.

He stressed that environmental conservation is closely linked to public health, noting that clean water, clean air and healthy ecosystems are essential for sustainable healthcare and the preservation of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine.