Posted on :Monday , 5th August 2024

UNICEF Tanzania has expressed its appreciation for the government's commitment to modernizing healthcare services, emphasizing the importance of maternity and newborn care in particular.

The UNICEF Representative for Tanzania, Lawrence Oundo, noted that this dedication is essential to tackling the serious issue of maternal mortality, which continues to take many lives as a result of avoidable difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth.

He was speaking at the official handover of the newly built and renovated Haneti, Soya, and Chipanga health centers in the Dodoma Region's Chamwino, Chemba, and Bahi Districts, respectively. He described the occasion as more than just a facility handover because it represents hope and provides a path to a better future for Tanzanian families.

These state-of-the-art facilities include theaters, postnatal care units, 50-bed maternity wards, and many more amenities to guarantee that every mother and child receives the essential care they require.

In partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNICEF carried out the initiative.

According to the head of UNICEF, this achievement is a major step forward in the combined efforts to increase Tanzanian mothers', babies', and kids' access to healthcare.

He noted that in order to enhance the well-being of families, the initiative is a prime example of collaboration between the local community, development partners, and the government.

With the opening of these new facilities, he stated, "UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to working with the government and partners to support sustainable delivery of quality maternal health services."

Oundo went on, "Our organization's goals are to advocate for gender equality and inclusion, encourage behavior change for better access to healthcare, and expand our partnerships and collaborations with the government to strengthen health systems and partnerships."

He maintained that in order to encourage safer delivery practices, all medical facilities should offer Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) services.

"We need to make sure these services are available to women, encouraging them to give birth in well-equipped facilities and lowering the risks involved in home births," he continued.

Oundo further praised KOICA for their kind assistance in turning these projects into rays of light and recognized the steadfast commitment of local and regional leaders who have embraced this effort enthusiastically.

Manshik Shin, the country director for KOICA, praised the government's efforts to enhance the quality of healthcare provided in the nation and stated that his nation is prepared to continue supporting these measures.

He stated that the focus and importance of KOICA projects lies with women and children. "Sustainable development requires investing in women and children," he declared.

Dr. Festus Dugange, the Deputy Minister of State for the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), praised the two groups for their assistance and said they help save lives.

He urged healthcare professionals to guarantee appropriate use and reaffirmed the government's commitment to guaranteeing that the facilities will be used as intended.