Protecting Mothers and Newborns in Tanzania

Tanzania has made important gains in maternal and child health over the past decades, yet the journey is far from complete. The country still faces high maternal and newborn mortality, with a neonatal mortality rate of 21 deaths per 1,000 live births (UNICEF), this means that almost 40,000 newborns die every year in Tanzania. Many of these deaths are preventable with timely care and well-equipped health facilities.

Across the country, midwives, community health workers, and women’s groups continue to play a vital role in expanding access to care, from antenatal check-ups to skilled delivery and postnatal follow-up. However, gaps in essential medicines, trained personnel, and transport continue to limit access, especially in rural and underserved areas. In the island areas, mothers need to travel the ocean by boat, to reach the nearest health facility.

Every Pregnancy’s partners are working alongside these communities to solve barriers that prevent mothers from accessing services and design maternity and neonatal wards in discussion with mothers, so that these meet their needs. Together, they are helping ensure that more mothers survive childbirth and more newborns begin life healthy and strong.

Your contribution helps extend these efforts to make every pregnancy in Tanzania safe.