Tanzania reduces maternal deaths by 80 per cent as it launches new healthcare project

GEITA: A new integrated health care project aimed at improving access and quality of care for pregnant women, postpartum women, and newborns has been launched.

So far, the government has succeeded in reducing maternal mortality by 80 per cent over a period of seven years, from 556 deaths per 100,000 live births to 104 deaths per 100,000 live births

This was stated by the project director from Thamini, Dr. Sunday Dominico, during the launch of the Safe Mother and Pregnant Project in the Geita region.

Dr. Sunday said that this five-year project will be implemented in Kigoma, Katavi, and Geita regions.

Dr. Sunday added that this project is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Gates Foundation, development partners collaborating with the government in the health sector.

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He said the stakeholders will work closely together in the implementation of the project to contribute to the government’s efforts to ensure that the goals of reducing maternal and child mortality during childbirth are achieved, towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

For his part, the Geita Regional Commissioner, Martin Shigela, said the goal of the project is to strengthen antenatal clinic services, integrated emergency services for mothers and children, preventive treatment for postpartum hemorrhage, as well as newborn services.

“Geita region has continued to make progress and reduce maternal and child mortality through capacity building of health professionals and an increase in health centers from 189 to 387 in the country, a move that demonstrates the Government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality,” said Shigela.

For his part, the Ministry of Health, Joachim Masunga, said the Government has set a sincere intention to ensure that it continues to put in place effective strategies to reduce the number of deaths caused by childbirth by involving various stakeholders to achieve the implementation of the project.

The stakeholders will collaborate closely in the implementation of the project to contribute to the government’s efforts to ensure that the goals of reducing maternal and child mortality during childbirth are achieved, towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.