SAMIA@4: Samia recognised for maternal health leadership

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan’s four-year tenure has seen significant progress in healthcare, particularly in maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health (MNCNH).

Her leadership in this area was recently acknowledged with the prestigious Global Goalkeeper Award by the Gates Foundation, making her the first African leader to receive this honour.

In her acceptance speech in Dar es Salaam, President Samia shared how the award was not just encouraging but inspiring for many reasons.

She expressed appreciation for the Gates Foundation, calling it an essential partner in global health and a valuable ally to Tanzania.

“The award is a recognition of the collective leadership and commitment of Tanzanians who work tirelessly to improve the lives of women, children and families,” President Samia said.

She went on to say that reducing maternal, newborn, child and adolescent mortality while improving nutrition has been central to the country’s National Development agenda.

“I dedicate this award to all health workers whose compassion, skills and resilience have made our efforts meaningful. Together, we continue to champion global health goals and ensure that health remains a universal right,” she added.

As a mother and Head of State, investment in maternal health is something dear to her heart. “When I assumed office, I pledged not only to invest in health facilities and staff but also to prioritise maternal and child health,” President Samia said.

Since 2021, her government has taken various steps to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health as well as nutrition. “It is encouraging to see that due to various strategic interventions, maternal mortality and under-five mortality have both decreased,” she said.

The maternal mortality ratio has declined and under-five mortality has dropped from 63 to 43 per 1,000 live births. President Samia detailed the government’s efforts, including increasing the number of registered obstetricians and gynaecologists from 69 in 2020 to 338 in 2024.

“We’ve been offering free maternal and under-five health services and strengthened the referral system by procuring 727 ambulances over the past nine years, improving emergency obstetric care,” she said.

To further complement the referral system, her administration introduced the m-mama emergency obstetric and newborn care service in collaboration with Vodafone Foundation. Additionally, the government increased the number of ultrasound machines from 345 in 2020 to 970 in 2024.

For hard-to-reach areas, substantial road construction has made health centres more accessible. Under President Samia’s leadership, Tanzania also became the 7th country to receive the Global Goalkeeper Award, with President Samia being the first African leader to be honoured with this distinguished accolade.

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She discussed how the government has used ICT advancements to conduct nationwide maternal and perinatal death reviews virtually.

These reviews revealed that 80 per cent of maternal deaths were linked to challenges in managing obstetric complications, prompting efforts to strengthen capacity building through mentorship for healthcare providers.

In the area of nutrition, the government introduced multi-sectoral strategies such as technology-driven nutrition assessments with the use of Cobas machines.

These machines have enhanced the National Laboratory’s capacity to analyse nutritional status using biological samples. Thanks to these efforts, the rate of wasting among children under five decreased from 4.5 per cent in 2015 to 3 per cent in 2022.

The administration has also implemented the National Accelerated Action and Investment Agenda for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (NAIA-AHW), which focuses on addressing teenage pregnancies and gender inequality, empowering girls with education and life skills.

As a result, teenage pregnancies have decreased from 27 per cent to 22 per cent. Community Health Workers (CHWs) have played a crucial role in improving access to healthcare at the grassroots level, delivering health education, promoting immunisation and tackling cultural barriers.

“It is my ambition to see continued investment in specialised health services and facilities. One area where we seek ongoing partnership is in training and capacity building to address the shortage of qualified staff,” President Samia said.

She further said that Tanzania’s journey highlights what is possible when health, nutrition and equality are placed at the forefront of national priorities. “As a global community, we share the responsibility to ensure no woman, child, or adolescent is left behind.”

President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, Dr Anita Zaidi, shared that investing in women and children is an investment in healthy families, resilient communities and a growing economy. “When women have access to the tools and services, they need to live healthy, productive lives, all of society benefits,” Dr Zaidi said.

Dr Zaidi also spoke about Tanzania’s progress in antenatal care and institutional births, noting that the country’s achievements in child nutrition and health have positioned it as a global leader in advancing maternal and child well-being.

For over 25 years, the Gates Foundation has supported Tanzania’s journey toward improved health, nutrition, agriculture and financial inclusion and it looks forward to continuing to support the country’s progress in women’s and children’s health.

Minister for Health Jenista Mhagama emphasised that the award reflects the tangible impact of policies that prioritise maternal and child health, universal healthcare access and the fight against communicable and non-communicable diseases.

She said President Samia’s commitment to the health sector has inspired significant progress, such as increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, with the number of health facilities growing from 8,458 in 2020 to 9,826 in 2024.

The number of hospitals with emergency medicine departments increased from seven in 2020 to 113 in 2024 and the number of health facilities providing comprehensive maternal and neonatal care (CEMONC) grew from 340 in 2020 to 523 in 2024.

As the award was celebrated, Ms Mhagama reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing health equity, tackling global challenges and building a nation where every citizen has access to quality healthcare.

Director of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) at the Ministry of Health, Dr Ahmad Makuwani, shared the key role political will and strategic campaigns have played in reducing maternal deaths.

He said that campaigns such as “Jiongeze Tuwavushe Salama” and efforts to improve service accessibility have helped bring healthcare closer to communities.

The introduction of telemedicine through WhatsApp groups has also played a role in managing maternal cases, and rigorous reviews of maternal and newborn deaths via Zoom have improved healthcare practices.

Dr Makuwani concluded by emphasising the importance of using limited resources efficiently to reach underserved populations.

Programme Director of Thamini Uhai, Dr Sunday Dominico, said a 13-year programme in the Kigoma region, aimed at reducing maternal deaths, successfully brought high-quality maternal and reproductive healthcare to rural areas.

This programme, which involved expanding comprehensive emergency obstetric care services, helped reduce maternal mortality by 43 per cent. Dr Dominico also stressed the need for continued focus on the quality of care provided to women, including the competence of healthcare providers and the importance of a comprehensive approach to healthcare services.

CEO of the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH), Dr Mary Sando, discussed the importance of locally generated evidence in shaping effective health policies, stating that context is crucial in shaping health priorities.

She also stressed the importance of innovation in monitoring maternal and newborn health.