Canada helping to save the lives of mothers and children in Tanzania

Ms. Regina L. Kikuli

As part of Canada’s G8 Muskoka Initiative, Canada’s Head of Cooperation Mr. John Moore today announced Canada’s support to improve healthcare for mothers and children in Tanzania.  The announcement was made on the margins of the National Workshop on the Accountability Framework for Women’s and Children’s Health hosted by the Government of Tanzania from April 23-25 in Dar es Salaam.

“Canada and Tanzania have committed to take action to put a stop to mothers dying during pregnancy and childbirth and children dying before their fifth birthday,” said Mr. Moore.  “I am proud to say that with today’s announcement, Canada is at the forefront of supporting the Government of Tanzania in this joint effort.”

The projects will help strengthen the delivery of health care services, improve nutrition, and address common and preventable diseases that cause maternal, newborn and child deaths.  This will be achieved by improving infrastructure, equipment and training related to prenatal, delivery and postnatal care, as well as infant and child care. 

These projects will also aim to improve community awareness and health practices and increase demand for MNCH and nutritional services.  Examples of activities include, upgrading health centres and dispensaries, training healthcare workers in emergency obstetrics, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition practices, and providing greater access to family planning and vaccinations.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, acting Permanent Secretary Ms. Regina L. Kikuli renewed Tanzania’s commitment to mothers and children and thanked Canada and other Development Partners for their support. “The Government of Tanzania is pleased to be working in partnership with Canada and other stakeholders to improve the health of Tanzanian women and children through improving access to and knowledge of life-saving health services,” said Ms Kikuli.

Tanzania was selected in 2009 as a country of focus as part of the Government of Canada’s aid effectiveness agenda and is one of 10 countries where CIDA is focusing its Muskoka Initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Backgrounder

Canada will provide over $127 million over four years (2011-2015) to support the Government of Tanzania to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes particularly in undeserved regions of Tanzania.

Strengthening Tanzania’s Health System for Maternal and Child Health (Government of Tanzania)

This project will help the Government of Tanzania confront the crisis in maternal, newborn and child mortality by improving health outcomes throughout its national health system. Between 2011 and 2015, Canada’s funding is expected to help immunize 24 million children and pregnant women against preventable diseases, provide 4 million women with antenatal and delivery care, help protect 2 million pregnant women from malaria, and reach a further 300,000 pregnant women with treatments and drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This support will also help train 4,000 healthcare providers in maternal, newborn and child health, as well as rehabilitate or upgrade approximately 2,000 primary health centres. Canada is contributing $63 million over four years for this initiative. This is in addition to Canada’s initial contribution of $47 million from 2010-2015.

One UN Program to Improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition

Canada’s contribution will support the implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Plan, which will help the national health system provide better local health services for mothers and children. This project will support child immunization, nutrition and food fortification programs. Canada’s support will help improve health procurement, stock management and distribution systems to improve equitable access to life-saving vaccines, micronutrients, and contraceptives. Canada is contributing $34.6 million over four years for the implementation of this program.

Accelerating Progress Towards Millennium Development Goal 4 (Reducing Child Mortality) and 5 (Improving Maternal Health) Through Community Based Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services (Plan International)

As a result of Canada’s assistance, over 400 health care workers will receive training and 195 health care facilities will be better equipped to provide quality basic emergency obstetric and newborn care. Additionally, Canada’s assistance will enable four health care facilities to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care. Canada is contributing $12 million over four years for this project.

Accelerating Efforts to Improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in the Simiyu Region of Tanzania (African Medical and Research Foundation Tanzania – AMREF)

Canada’s contribution will help strengthen the delivery of health services to approximately 650,000 women of childbearing age, newborns, and children under five in the new Simiyu region of Tanzania. The project will help increase the ability of existing health systems to deliver quality services by encouraging community groups to participate in the development of district health plans. Additionally, the project will train over 330 health care workers and equip and improve health care facilities, maternal waiting homes and hospitals in five districts. Canada is contributing $13 million over four years for this project.

Supporting Systems to Achieve Improved Nutrition, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (World Vision)

In Tanzania, births, postnatal complications and underlying conditions such as anaemia and malnutrition are major causes of maternal mortality.  In infants and children, infections and malnutrition are major causes of death.  This project aims to address these causes by improving the use of community health services, enhancing household nutrition practices, and improving utilization of disease prevention and treatment measures with a particular focus on malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Canada is contributing $3 million over three years for this project.

Safer Obstetrics in Rural Tanzania (Canadian Network for International Surgery)

 More than 1,000 non-physician clinicians—clinical officers, assistant medical officers and midwives—will be trained to deliver basic medical care, identify patients who require referral, and assure that their transfer is safe. Assistant medical officers will learn and practice caesarean sections and, together with midwives, will also be taught emergency obstetrical care. Canada is contributing $1.86 million over three years for this project.