Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(Kigoma, Tazania) – World Lung Foundation (WLF) this week joined over a hundred community and government health leaders and advocates at a meeting convened by the Government of Kigoma to coordinate maternal health activities and to identify gaps in the region. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has singled out this rural western region, which comprises Kigoma and Rukwa, as a priority area for concerted effort under the “Sharpened One Plan” – a strategic action plan designed to bring Tanzania closer to achieving its targets on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
The meeting was supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies whose maternal health project in Tanzania is aimed at advancing the country’s efforts in meeting Millennium Development Goal 5: reducing maternal and infant mortality.
Tanzania has made considerable progress in reducing childhood mortality, but similar progress has yet to be achieved in maternal mortality. The maternal mortality rate in the Kigoma region is higher than the national average in Tanzania, which currently has a maternal mortality ratio of 410 per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 21 per 1000 live births.
Efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Kigoma are impeded by major challenges including a shortage of staff (Assistant Medical Officers, skilled nurses), inadequate resources, and women coming late to the facilities that are available. This is why Kigoma has been a major focus of WLF’s Maternal Health Program’s efforts for the past five years and a priority for support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
While delivering at a health center is considered an imperative for delivering babies safely, especially if there are complications, several issues can cause life-threatening delays for expectant mothers. These mainly include a community norm to deliver at home instead of in a health facility, and a lack of transportation in poor, rural areas. “While capacity at health centers is improving, delays by families seeking care for pregnant woman and poor planning to seek care persist and need to be addressed,” says Dr. Nguke Mwakatundu, Director of WLF’s Maternal Health Project in Tanzania.
WLF has supported the upgrade and building of nine health facilities in the Kigoma region and has trained 106 Non-Physician Clinicians (NPCs) in Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New born Care (CEmONC) across Tanzania. Working across five districts, WLF has helped to upgrade a further nine facilities, including six health centers, to become CEmONC service delivery facilities. These facilities include health centers in Ujiji, Nguruka, Kakonko, Mabamba, Nyenge, Buhingu and three hospitals in Maweni, Kibondo and Kasulu.
Additionally, WLF has built or renovated staff houses to help improve staffing levels at remote health centers. WLF also convenes weekly teleconferences and provides access to a round-the-clock emergency call line in order to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of maternal health workers and provides essential supplies during stock outs.
Other organizations present at the meeting include the H&B Agerup Foundation another major donor for the Tanzania Maternal Health project, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Engender Health, PSI, Marie Stopes, Tanzania Health Promotion Support, Tanzania Red Cross, Women’s Promotion Center, World Vision, and several other NGOs and health providers.