Tanzania has joined African leaders and global health partners in a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening efforts to improve maternal and child health across the continent.
Deputy Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.
The meeting was jointly organised by the Government of Tanzania and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), bringing together government leaders, health agencies and development partners to discuss challenges affecting the health of women and children.
Among those attending were World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya.
Benin’s First Lady, Nathalie Vilette Wadagni, also attended the meeting, alongside representatives of major global health and development organisations.
They included the Gates Foundation, Global Fund, Gavi, UNFPA, UNICEF, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and Beginning Fund, as well as representatives of the African Union (AU).
The meeting provided a platform for participating countries and partners to discuss ways of accelerating progress in maternal and child health, including strengthening health systems and improving access to essential healthcare services.
Maternal and child health remains a major public health priority in Africa, where countries continue to work to reduce preventable deaths among women, newborns and children.
Tanzania’s participation comes amid wider government efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to services for women and children.
The high-level meeting formed part of discussions taking place during UNGA81, where governments and international organisations are addressing major development and public health priorities.