Tanzania makes strides in cutting maternal, newborn child deaths

NEW YORK: TANZANIA has recorded significant progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, with the proportion of births taking place at health facilities rising from 51 per cent in 2015 to 81 per cent in 2022.

Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi highlighted the achievement while representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He said the progress demonstrates that investing in practical interventions and placing people’s welfare at the centre of development can turn commitments into tangible and measurable results.

The Vice President said President Samia had accepted the responsibility of championing maternal and child health on behalf of the African Union, underscoring Tanzania’s role in advancing efforts to improve health outcomes across the continent.

He said Tanzania had recorded an 80 per cent reduction in maternal deaths over a seven-year period under President Samia’s leadership.

Mr Ndejembi said Tanzania was now pursuing the “Three Zeros” agenda aimed at achieving zero preventable maternal and child deaths, zero home deliveries and zero children missing essential vaccinations.

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He said the experience gained by Tanzania demonstrated that Africa could achieve the targets if countries strengthened political commitment, mobilised adequate financial resources and enhanced international cooperation.

“Achieving these targets will require strong political leadership, adequate financial resources and stronger cooperation,” he said.

He called on the international community to support efforts aimed at advancing maternal and child health, saying sustained investment was critical to ensuring that progress made in Tanzania and across Africa was maintained and expanded.