Uzazi Uzima (Swahili for “Safe Deliveries”)

Many mothers and their children in the Simiyu region of northwestern Tanzania lack access to basic health care during pregnancy, delivery and the first few years of life. Focusing on five districts where mother and child deaths are high, Amref Health Africa in Tanzania, building on our previous work in maternal health in Tanzania, is continuing to ensure quality health care is available to prevent unnecessary deaths.

Project timeline: January 2017 to December 2021
Funder: Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada

Situation – Moms and babies lack access to health care

Many women, including adolescent mothers and their children, in the Simiyu region of northwestern Tanzania lack access to basic health care during pregnancy, delivery and the first few years of life–largely due to a lack of access to, and low use of, health services.

Action: Improving access to and use of health services for women, including adolescent mothers and their children

To improve access to health care, Amref Health Africa and our partners will:

  • provide training, supervision and mentorship to health workers to improve their skills in sexual and reproductive care, maternal care and family planning
  • support health facilities with infrastructure and equipment with an emphasis on IT, health management information systems
  • improve referral systems so that rural communities are encouraged to access health services.

To improve the use of health services by women and their families, we will:

  • train and equip Community Health Workers, Traditional Birth Attendants, traditional healers and community influencers
  • reinforce education and awareness-raising efforts with a media campaign around reproductive, maternal and newborn health topics, including gender equality, harmful traditional practices, and the significance of men’s involvement in mother and child health
  • encourage community feedback on quality of services for reproductive and maternal health, and nutrition.

Results to Date: Highlights

  • 680,000+ women, girls, men and boys reached directly through the project’s integrated health-focused activities.
  • 350,000 people reached directly with education about essential health care, such as contraception, immunization, nutrition and pre- and post-natal care, through community events that used plays, poetry, songs and dance to spread awareness.
  • 800 community health workers trained on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Community health workers are the first point of contact for health education in communities where the project worked.
  • 1,200+ secondary school students trained on sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people. These students trained their fellow young people through youth clubs at 146 schools that were set up through the project.
  • 80% of births by women and adolescent girls took place in a health facility, an increase of 24% since the start of the project. Giving birth at a health facility, rather than at home, reduces the risk of women and newborns dying due to complications.
  • 82% of young people, aged 10 to 24, used the youth-friendly health services established through the project. No such services existed before the Uzazi Uzima project started.

Project at a Glance

Situation

The maternal mortality ratio in Tanzania is still an astonishing 454 per 100,000 live births, and is even worse in the Simiyu region of northwestern Tanzania. This project will build on our previous work in maternal health in Tanzania and aim to improve access to basic sexual reproductive health care for moms and babies in Simiyu.

Action

We are improving access to, and improving the use of, health services by women and their families.

Expected Results

2.3 million women, children and men benefit directly or indirectly through training, education and other initiatives.

Partners

Marie Stopes

Service Partner

Deloitte