Canada has pledged over $50 million USD to fill persistent gaps in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health. Photo: Daniel Hayduk
Five new projects funded by the Government of Canada are taking aim at ‘persistent gaps’ in reproductive, maternal and newborn health in underserved areas.
These projects, valued at TZS 114.2 billion ($50 million USD), will directly benefit over 1.4 million women and girls and their families; approximately 5,100 healthcare workers, as well as indirectly benefit millions living in these regions.
Through these projects, Canada will, among other things, train healthcare staff and equip health facilities to deliver high-impact reproductive, maternal and newborn health interventions such as family planning, Comprehensive and Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care and nutrition services.
A press release by the High Commission of Canada notes that there are ‘persistently high levels of maternal and newborn deaths’ and that improvements are needed to ‘close the gaps in reproductive health care for adolescent girls and women.’
The projects will also involve encouraging Tanzanian men and boys to support their partners’ and daughters’ health and well-being and promote a meaningful and active participation in the pregnancies, births and overall care of their children.
“We have been working closely in our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of Tanzanians, especially women and girls,” says Ummy Mwalimu, Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.
“We welcome wholeheartedly these new reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health initiatives – they will go a long way in improving the lives of women and girls in these underserved areas,” says Mwalimu.
