Maternal death fight gains impetus

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has stepped up the fight against preventable maternal deaths, with a 1.8bn/-investment at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) strengthening specialised care for women facing high-risk pregnancies and life-threatening complications.

The investment comes as the government targets a reduction in maternal mortality to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030/31, while Tanzania Development Vision 2050 sets the longterm goal of eliminating preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths.

MNH Executive Director, Dr Delilah Kimambo, said the investment in a new maternal and child health operating theatre, medical oxygen plant and specialised services would improve early detection and management of complications before they become life-threatening.

“These services are part of MNH efforts to ensure that maternal and child health complications are detected and managed early, rather than patients arriving at the hospital in critical condition requiring emergency care,” she said yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

She said the development carries national significance because MNH receives some of the country’s most complicated maternal cases referred from other health facilities for specialist and super-specialist treatment.

Health Minister, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, said women referred to MNH often face the most serious complications, requiring specialised services available at the national referral hospital.

“Despite the major achievements we have made and the recognition our country has received in Africa, including the President being recognised as a champion of reproductive health in Africa, we are still grappling with maternal and newborn deaths. Mothers referred to Muhimbili are those with the most serious challenges, requiring specialised services that are available here,” he said.

Dr Kimambo said MNH would strengthen Fetal Maternal Medicine services to provide specialised care for high-risk pregnancies and monitor the health and development of unborn babies.

The service will support early identification of pregnancyrelated hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney diseases, sickle cell disease, multiple pregnancies, poor fetal growth and congenital abnormalities.

She said, in collaboration with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the service would also provide training for specialist doctors and midwives.

MNH will also strengthen Urogynecology services for women affected by pelvic floor and bladder conditions, including obstetric fistula, urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

The hospital will further strengthen Gynecologic Urology services to manage urinary conditions and injuries affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urinary tract.

Another specialised service, Gynecologic Oncology, will focus on prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers affecting the female reproductive system, including specialised surgery, cancer medicines, radiotherapy coordination with the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), palliative care and counselling.

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The investment comes alongside wider government efforts to strengthen emergency maternal and newborn care. The Ministry of Health has reported an increase in health facilities providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care from 566 to 627.

The latest internationally comparable estimates by WHO and partner agencies put Tanzania’s maternal mortality ratio at 275.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, compared with 454 deaths per 100,000 live births for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Reducing the ratio to below 70 by 2030/31 therefore requires continued investment in prevention, early detection, skilled care, emergency obstetric services and referral capacity.

Under Tanzania Development Vision 2050, the elimination of preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths forms part of the country’s long-term health and wellbeing priorities.

Dr Kimambo said the new infrastructure would help ensure patients receive timely services using modern technology and infrastructure meeting national and international standards.

“We want to see every patient who comes to Muhimbili gets services on time, using technology and infrastructure that meet nationally and internationally accepted standards. This is what we aim to achieve as we continue improving our services,” she said.

The maternal and child health theatre received support from several stakeholders, including NMB Bank, which contributed 500mil/-, and NBC Bank, which contributed 50mil/-.