Tanzania has strengthened maternal and child health services under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, building 114 specialized hospital units for neonatal and maternal care.
The Neonatal Care Units (NCU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) rooms aim to improve survival rates for premature and low-birth-weight babies, offering oxygen support, heart monitoring, and specialized feeding.
KMC promotes skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns, a proven method to regulate body temperature and enhance breastfeeding.
Health indicators have improved significantly since 2020.
The number of women giving birth in health facilities rose from 52,585 in 2020 to 141,386 in 2024, while live births increased from 1.39 million to 1.83 million during the same period, official data show.
These interventions are crucial for reducing neonatal mortality and ensuring healthy early development.
The move aligns with Tanzania’s broader commitment to achieving universal health coverage and reducing maternal and infant mortality, in line with global health targets.