The Government of Japan, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has provided a vehicle and essential medical equipment valued at over 800 million Tanzanian shillings to enhance sexual and reproductive health services in Kigoma region.
Speaking during the handover ceremony held in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, Japan's Ambassador to Tanzania, Yasushi Misawa, described the initiative as part of his government’s supplementary budget project.
The funding supports a year-long program aimed at improving access to high-quality maternal and newborn health services.
Ambassador Misawa outlined the project’s focus on empowering adolescents with better health information and distributing dignity kits to women and girls in Kigoma’s refugee camps and host communities.
“The Government of Japan remains unwavering in its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that women, adolescent girls, and first-time young mothers receive vital health services, fostering hope and resilience among those most affected,” he said.
He further explained that Japan entrusted UNFPA Tanzania with implementing the initiative in partnership with the Tanzania Red Cross Society, Kigoma regional authorities, and other stakeholders. Misawa highlighted that Kigoma’s Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camps accommodate over 190,000 refugees, of whom approximately 15 percent are women of reproductive age.
Over the past two decades, the Embassy of Japan has spearheaded seven education, health, and sanitation projects across Kigoma’s districts.
Misawa reaffirmed Japan’s six-decade-long relationship with Tanzania and its enduring commitment to the nation’s social and economic progress.
Kigoma Regional Administrative Secretary, Hassan Rugwa, commended the initiative, describing it as transformative for the region’s healthcare system.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone in addressing the critical health needs of our communities. The support from Japan and UNFPA will strengthen health systems and save lives by ensuring women and young girls can access the care they urgently require,” he remarked.
Mark Schreiner, UNFPA’s Country Representative, underscored the collaboration’s importance, stating, “This initiative demonstrates our shared commitment to leaving no woman or girl behind. The generous support from the Government of Japan enables us to sustain and expand life-saving health services, empowering communities in need.”
Schreiner also highlighted the program’s role in addressing key gaps in reproductive health services in Kigoma, where limited access to quality care has resulted in significant health risks, including complications during pregnancy.
Rugwa concluded by noting that the initiative will deliver crucial resources, such as medical equipment, dignity kits, and reproductive health supplies, while simultaneously enhancing the skills and capacity of healthcare workers.