MORE WOMEN NOW DELIVER AT HEALTH CENTRES

THE Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHSMIS) shows that more women are now giving birth at health centres.

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, noted that women giving birth at health centres had increased from 51 per cent in 2010 to 63 per cent in 2015/16.

Speaking at the end of the week when launching the results of the TDHS-MIS, Ms Mwalimu said the survey shows that there is an increase of expectant mothers who received assistance from health experts -- from 50 per cent in 2010 to 64 per cent in 2015/16. “My priority is to ensure the number of women dying while giving birth is reduced significantly. 

I am not a doctor but I will ensure that these deaths are prevented as well as bringing teenage pregnancies to an end,” she explained.

The survey also revealed an increase of Malaria infections among children under one year, to 14 per cent in 2015/16 compared to 9 percent in 2010 by use of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs).

She added that the survey also revealed that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence was still high.

However, there is an increase of women making decisions on their own. It was also revealed that there are 42 per cent out of every 100 women in urban areas who are obese and 21 per cent of the same number of women being obese in rural areas, prompting Ms Mwalimu to ask women to engage in exercises.

The TDHS-MIS 2015/2016 showed that for every 100 homesteads, only 19 have improved toilets and for every village, only 10 homesteads had such toilets. improved toilets in homesteads in the country.