Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu launches the distribution of equipment to improve maternal, child and reproductive health services worth more than 14.9 billion shillings which will be distributed in 214 states and councils across the country.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam at the Medical Distribution Center (MSD) Headquarters during the launch, Minister Ummy said the launch of the distribution of such equipment is aimed at improving maternal, child and reproductive health services and strengthening safe childbirth in the country.

He said President Dr. Samia's goal is to save the lives of mothers and children so the equipment worth more than 14.9 billion shillings, will be distributed in 214 states and councils across the country.

Minister Ummy mentioned the purchased equipment that will be distributed by MSD as 3080 hospital beds, 1000 emergency beds, 5,500 mattresses, 36808 sheets, 306 overbed tables, which will be distributed across the country.

He said the efforts of the government of President Dr. Samia have achieved a reduction in maternal deaths from 556 per 100,000 live births in 2015/16 to 104 per 100,000 live births.

“Also, under-five mortality has decreased from 67 per 1000 live births in 2015/16 to 43 per 1000 live births. This is equivalent to reducing maternal mortality from 11,000 to 2,500 deaths per year.

“The government will ensure that the country achieves national and international goals such as the Millennium Development Goals 2030 which call for us to reduce the impact of maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, under-38 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-12 deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.

He said President Dr. Samia is affected by maternal mortality, so investment in maternal and child health is continuing rapidly by building cesarean section (CEmONC) centers from 340 centers in 2021 to reach 523 centers in 2023.

Minister Ummy emphasized that improvements in access to these services at health care centers have brought these surgical services closer to the citizens by more than 75 to 85 percent and people have access to health services within 5 kilometers of their living areas.

“Similarly, the Government has continued to invest in reproductive, maternal and child health services by building special care wards (neonatal NCUs) that serve critically ill newborns by more than doubling from 99 in 2021 to 189 in 2023,” he said.

Minister Ummy added that, in parallel with improving these services, the Government has continued to purchase and distribute medical equipment and medicines and increase the scope of access to reproductive health products from 82.5 percent in 2022 to 88.2 percent in 2023.

Also recruiting and deploying qualified staff to health care centers nationwide, employing about 28,759 health workers by 2023.

He said that in terms of beds to provide reproductive health services, they have increased from 84,162 beds (in 2021) to 104,687 beds (in 2023).

In addition, the ministry expects to receive other medical equipment soon, which are delivery beds (4280), examination tables (4280), delivery kits (4280), bedside lockers (6420) and drip stands (6420).

He said that each state will receive 30 beds, 30 mattresses, 60 sheets, 30 ward cabinets, 30 water treatment stands, 15 dining tables for patients, delivery beds 10, 10 sets of medical equipment for childbirth and 10 maternity ward examination beds