IN ongoing efforts to promote innovations among young people, Zanzibar has launched the ‘Blue Economy Innovation Challenge (BEIC), targeting innovative businesses.
According to Dr Said Khamis from ‘Cube Institution in Zanzibar, under this first BEIC, eligible businesses must first meet the basic criteria such as using innovation to address existing gap; business being beyond idea stage; piloted in Zanzibar and ready for scaling; demonstrate technical and financial viability in the long run; and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNDP, and UNICEF through the ‘Waste X Lab project’ in collaboration with the government through its Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries; State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Zanzibar Micro, Small and Medium Industrial Development Agency (SMIDA) and the Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) jointly launched the challenge project at the SUZA grounds, Tunguu.
With an amount of up to 10,000 US dollars to be awarded to the winners, the government in collaboration with partners invites an innovation challenge approach to map existing solutions in the solid waste innovation ecosystem and serve as a ladder for further innovations.
Dr Khamis said the approach is congruent with the government of Zanzibar Vision 2050, which highlights the importance of boosting innovation and climate resilience planning.
On his part SMIDA Director Mr Soud Said Ali explained further that the Ministry of Blue Economy in Zanzibar has highlighted the priority of institutional capacity building for waste management and combating land-based sources of marine pollution, marine litter, and micro plastics, as one of its main priorities.
The ‘challenge project’ targets recycling and upcycling businesses that employ technologies in mechanical engineering, digital technology (Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain/Augmented Reality) and mobile apps, with a special focus on youth and women entrepreneurs together with start-ups.
“Innovative entrepreneurs are required to submit their innovative businesses that have either emerged or proved more relevant to waste management,” he said in his speech adding
Eligible businesses will also take part in one week-long investor readiness programme and be part of a pipeline for future potential support by UNDP and other development partners.
They will also be availed with a chance to win a cash award of up to 5,000 US dollars for the first winner, 3000 US dollars for the second winner and 2000 US dollars for the third winner to invest in the winning business.
SUZA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mohamed Makame Haji said solid waste management is a cross-cutting issue.
“The success of this initiative clearly demonstrates that we have responded to the President Hussein Mwinyi’s directive, to recycle solid waste and also produce commodities out of it, a move to create jobs, while keeping the environment clean,” he said.
Mr Peter Nyanda, Team Lead, Accelerator Labs, UNDP Tanzania had this to share, “Circular economy and blue economy are two sides of the same coin, and thus embedding technology in waste management will indeed help to accelerate efforts towards reducing land-based sources of marine litter and microplastics, and eventually improve life under waste and the marine biodiversity at large.”
Source: allafrica.com
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Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania is winning the battle against maternal and newborn deaths, as the latest numbers reveal a significant decline.
“Tanzania is committed to reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe deliveries as part of the national development plan. The Safer Births Bundle of Care is one of the key strategies supporting this effort,” said Dr. Benjamin Kamala, the Senior Research Scientist at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and Principal Investigator for the program, leading its implementation across five regions in Tanzania.
A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the innovative health program in Tanzania – centered on regular, on-the-job training for healthcare workers – reduced maternal deaths by 75% and early newborn deaths by 40%. The three-year study, conducted across 30 high-burden healthcare facilities in Tanzania, tracked approximately 300,000 mother-baby pairs under the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme. The programme focuses on improving care for mothers and babies during the day of birth, the critical time when a woman goes into labor and delivers her baby.
Maternal health is a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tanzania’s program combines continuous, simulation-based training for frontline healthcare workers alongside innovative clinical tools to improve labour monitoring (fetal heart rate monitoring) and newborn resuscitation.It also uses data to drive ongoing improvements, ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills, confidence, and competence to manage birth-related complications for both mothers and newborns.
“We work closely with healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary tools to improve the quality of care, ensuring they can effectively manage both mothers and babies during and after childbirth,” Dr. Kamala said, which helps them build on over a decade of innovative research and collaboration to improve care during childbirth.
“To give you a sense of the scale of the burden of maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania when the Safer Births Bundles of Care program was in early development in 2015/16, there were around 556 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 25 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.
The published study demonstrates the “transformative impact” of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program conducted across 30 hospitals in five high-burden regions of Tanzania, where there were about 300,000 mother-baby pairs.
Maternal deaths at the start of the program were recorded at 240 per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders being the leading causes of death, he said. Over the 24-month study period, this number dropped to approximately 60 per 100,000 live births, representing a 75% reduction. The number of newborn deaths – which are primarily due to breathing difficulties and complications related to prematurity – declined by 40% – from 7 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“These results are remarkable,” Dr. Kamala said.
According to Dr. Kamala, the 75% reduction in maternal deaths was not expected, and a key lesson was the important role of the in-situ team simulations – including for postpartum bleeding – with reflective debriefings that trained facilitators led.
“This seems to be a major part of the success of the program,” he said. “We are delighted by these results and hope that other countries adopt and scale the Safer Births Bundle of Care program… Beyond the numbers, the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has fostered a dramatic culture shift in our healthcare system,” he said. “Healthcare workers are now more confident and better equipped to handle birth-related complications for both mothers and babies.”
Maternal death drop
Dr. Kamala attributed the 60-70% reduction in newborn deaths in Geita and Manyara to several factors.
“Firstly, Manyara was the first site for implementation, giving the region more time to adapt and experience the impact of the program. Most importantly, both regions had a high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, making them ideal targets for focused intervention. As a result, newborn deaths decreased by 60-70%, showcasing a clear positive impact on newborn survival,” he said.
Dr. Kamala said another possible explanation is the differences in the culture of practices, where some health facilities reported inaccurate data due to the fear of blame and shame. However, with the project’s implementation, reporting became more accurate after mplementation. Some regions, such as Tabora, reported an increase in the number of referrals to the study hospitals from other care centers after the program was implemented. These were more likely to be late admissions, which increase the likelihood of poor health outcomes, he said.
After the implementation of the program, there was a 40% decrease in newborn deaths within the first 24 hours after birth, according to the study.
Dr. Kamala said Tanzania’s remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality by 80% is driven by strategic investments and innovative programs focused on improving maternal and child survival rates.
“Over 2,000 new healthcare facilities have been developed, free health services are being provided to expectant mothers and children under the age of five, and emergency obstetric care – including better transport to hospitals in rural areas are helping to ensure timely, life-saving interventions.
“Most importantly, the Ministry of Health works in collaboration with healthcare workers, hospitals, and development partners to strengthen the skills of frontline healthcare workers, which has been a key factor in driving this progress.
“Political leadership, alongside strategic partnerships and financing, has been crucial in driving progress in maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The program was made possible by the support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, Norad, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, as well as the Ministry of Health and Haydom Lutheran Hospital. Their partnership and investment enabled the scaling of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to 30 hospitals and supported the research. “The government has now scaled the program to over 150 sites, and there are plans for further expansion to three regions this year and then nationally,” he said.
Dr. Kamala outlined key policy recommendations for other governments can adopt to prioritize maternal health.
“Firstly, it focuses on cost-effective and relatively simple interventions that are essential to preventing maternal and newborn deaths. For example, stronger primary healthcare that is delivered in the community and a well-trained healthcare workforce are also critical. Additionally, working in close collaboration with national, regional, and local health authorities is key.”
He said Tanzania’s approach, where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program was successfully scaled and sustained by aligning the initiative with national guidelines for obstetrical and newborn care. In addition, the creation of mentorship programs and regular supervision has helped to sustain the results.
Looking ahead
Tanzania now plans to expand to three new regions in 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout.
The success of the program has attracted interest from other countries, with Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Namibia expressing interest in adapting the program to their healthcare system. In Nigeria, the program has already been launched in two states, Gombe and Borno, marking a significant step in its scaling.
Source: allafrica.com
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