Canadian NGO commits to support maternal, child health
ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health has welcomed a delegation from Canada based Neighbourhood Organisation and Humanity (NOHFI) to strengthen collaboration, particularly in maternal and child health, including care for children with heart conditions.
Speaking at Mnazi Mmoja office after receiving the delegation, Zanzibar’s Minister of Health, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, said the purpose of the visit was to assess the state of health service delivery across health centres and hospitals in both Unguja and Pemba.
He noted that the delegation aims to identify challenges faced in the implementation of health services, with the goal of working jointly to address them and improve service delivery systems, especially at the level of primary healthcare.
To date, the organisation has contributed around USD 30 million (about 74.4bn/-) to health initiatives across various countries.
Their visit to Zanzibar offers a valuable opportunity to address ongoing challenges in delivering quality care for mothers, children, and patients with paediatric and cardiac conditions,” Mazrui said.
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He added that the ministry is ready to cooperate with NOHFI to strengthen health sector performance, particularly in areas found to be lacking after the assessment tour is completed.
NOHFI Executive Director, Mohammad Firaaz Azeez said the visit is intended to deepen partnerships in child heart care programmes and to support improvements in maternal and child health services.
The efforts include enhancing monitoring systems for pregnant women, from the community level up to health facilities.
He further explained that the organisation has chosen to focus its efforts in these areas to ensure patients receive comprehensive treatment supported by improved systems, including efficient referral pathways, capacitybuilding for local doctors, and the establishment of long-term partnerships to achieve sustainable health outcomes.
NOHFI’s Chief International Diplomatic Advisor, Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, said that the organisation is committed to strengthening health service programmes across Africa, with a focus on ensuring mothers and children get access to quality care from early stages of pregnancy through childbirth.
He emphasized the importance of working collaboratively with governments, communities, and international partners to build resilient health systems, particularly for marginalized populations who often face difficulties in accessing adequate and timely care. NOHFI operates in several countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
