Tanzania set to launch AU maternal health roadmap

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania will host the launch of the African Union Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Roadmap 2026–2030 in Arusha later next month, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan expected to officially unveil the continental health plan.

Saada Mkuya, Zanzibar’s Minister of State in the President’s Office, Finance and Planning, announced the planned launch during the fourth Eastern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) meeting in Dar es Salaam.

President Samia, who serves as the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, will launch the roadmap in the presence of fellow African heads of state and government, Ms Mkuya said.

She said Tanzania remained committed to advancing the roadmap and strengthening regional cooperation to address persistent challenges affecting the health of mothers, newborns and children.

“The roadmap’s success will depend on strong country ownership, adequate domestic financing, well-aligned partnerships and effective implementation at community and primary healthcare levels,” she said.

Ms Mkuya urged member states and partners to support the roadmap beyond its launch, saying sustained investment and coordinated action would be crucial to turning its objectives into measurable improvements in health outcomes.

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According to her, Tanzania would continue investing in primary healthcare, emergency preparedness and response, cross-border disease surveillance, laboratory systems and the health workforce, while protecting essential services for women, newborns, children and adolescents.

Such investments, she noted, have become increasingly important as Eastern Africa faces interconnected challenges, including disease outbreaks, climate shocks, conflicts, displacement and food insecurity, all of which can disrupt health services and put lives at risk across borders.

Ms Mkuya therefore called for stronger regional action, stressing that no country could achieve health security on its own.

She further noted that every health emergency should provide an opportunity to strengthen health systems and improve countries’ ability to respond to future threats, urging delegates to translate regional commitments into concrete national action as Africa advances its health security and health sovereignty agenda.