The government has stepped up efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths by setting out implementation strategies for a multi-year partnership project targeting reproductive, maternal and child health services.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Health, through its Department of Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, in collaboration with Thamini Uhai.
The strategies were agreed during a meeting held on January 21, 2026, at the Ministry of Health offices in Mtumba, Dodoma.
Speaking at the meeting, the department’s director, Dr Ahmad Makuwani, said the government remains firmly committed to lowering deaths linked to pregnancy and childbirth by strengthening coordination with development partners.
He said the ministry is focused on deploying practical, results-oriented interventions, including prioritising high-burden areas, expanding specialised newborn care units (NICUs), and increasing access to modern medical equipment to improve care during labour and delivery.
“The government has a strong commitment to continue putting in place robust strategies to reduce maternal deaths by working closely with various stakeholders to ensure the success of this project,” Dr Makuwani said.
He added that the project will also place emphasis on capacity building, noting that training for supervisors and other implementing partners is essential to guarantee efficient and high-quality delivery of services.
On his part, Thamini Uhai Director of Projects and President of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Tanzania, Dr Sunday Dominico, said the five-year project will be implemented in Kigoma, Katavi and Geita regions.
He said the organisation has been entrusted to implement the government–development partners collaboration, which aims to strengthen reproductive, maternal and child health services, particularly during antenatal care and childbirth.
Dr Dominico said the project will also improve access to emergency obstetric care, as well as specialised services for premature babies and newborns with low birth weight.
He added that the initiative is funded by two major development partners Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Gates Foundation both based in the United States and long-time partners of the Tanzanian government in supporting the health sector.
He said stakeholders have agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to track implementation progress, with the overarching goal of significantly reducing maternal and newborn deaths during childbirth.