TANZANIA GOVERNMENT ADOPTS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO HALVE MATERNAL DEATHS BY 2020
THE government has adopted the national strategic plan to reduce
maternal deaths from 432 to 292 in 100,000 live births by 2020. Under
the national strategic plan on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child
health, 100 theatre rooms will be built in different health centres in
the country for emergency services.
Health, Community Development, Gender,
Elders and Children Minister Ummy Mwalimu, said in Dar es Salaam this
week that the construction of the 100 theatre rooms will begin next
year.
Ms Mwalimu said the plan will also
include the construction of maternity wards and blood banks as well as
increasing the number of skilled personnel and expectant mothers giving
birth in health centres, with the aim of reducing maternal deaths and
increasing the number of women using family planning.
The minister was speaking in Dar es
Salaam at the launch of the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and
Malaria Indicator Survey 2015/16 (TDHS-MIS), which indicated that in the
past decade five women in every 1,000 live births have been dying due
to maternal related complications.
“The 100 theater rooms will be
constructed even before the end of next year to ensure availability of
emergency maternal services at all public health centres,” Ms Mwalimu
said, noting that according to the report, in 2004/05 there were 578
maternal deaths in every 100,000 live births compared to 556 in 100,000
live births in 2015/16.
“Under this situation it is not correct
to say that the number of maternal deaths has decreased because since
2004/05 to 2015/16, in every 1,000 live births, five women have been
dying,” she noted.
She said her office will also continue
implementing various programmes to reduce the number of maternal deaths,
citing provision of education on family planning and moving the health
services closer to the people.
The minister reaffirmed the government
commitment to reduce maternal deaths, saying the country has not
performed well in implementing the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.
“Being a mother myself, reduction of maternal deaths is my
priority...we intend to reduce the deaths from 432 to 292 in 100,000
live births by 2020,” Ms Mwalimu said.
She said the government also intends to
reduce child mortality from 21 to 16 in 1,000 live births and under
one-year from 45 to 25 in 1,000 live birth while the under five deaths
will be reduced to 40 from 54 by 2020.