Wadau wachambua safu mpya ACT-Wazalendo, mustakabali wake

Wadau wachambua safu mpya ACT-Wazalendo, mustakabali wake

Dar es Salaam. Chama cha ACT-Wazalendo kimekamilisha uchaguzi na kupata safu mpya ya viongozi wa juu watakaokiongoza chama hicho hadi mwaka 2029, huku mtihani wao wa kwanza ukitajwa kuwa ni kukipa mafanikio katika uchaguzi wa mwaka huu na ule wa mwakani.

 Safu hiyo imepatikana kupitia mkutano mkuu wa nne uliofanyika kwa siku mbili  katika ukumbi wa Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam jana na leo Jumatano, Machi 6, 2024 na washindi kwenda kutangaziwa katika mkutano wa hadhara uliofanyikia Uwanja wa Las Vegas, Mabibo.

Safu hiyo ya juu ya uongozi ambayo yote ni mpya, inaongozwa na Dorothy Semu akiwa Kiongozi wa Chama (KC), akichukua nafasi ya Zitto Kabwe aliyemaliza muda wake wa uongozi wa vipindi viwili vya miaka mitano mitano.

Semu aliyekuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti Bara kabla ya kuikwaa nafasi hiyo, atakuwa pamoja na Othman Masoud Othman, Mwenyekiti na makamu wenyeviti, Jussa Ismail (Zanzibar) na Isihaka Mchinjita (Bara).

Hatua ya Semu, Othman, Jussa na Mchinjita kuibuka kidedea inaonyesha ACT-Wazalendo, imepata safu mpya ya viongozi wa juu, huku leo ikitarajiwa kutangazwa sekretarieti mpya itakayokuwa na katibu mkuu, manaibu, makatibu wa ngome zote tatu za vijana, wanawake, wazee na wakuu wa idara.

Kwa sasa sekretarieti hiyo inaongozwa na Ado Shaibu ambaye ni Katibu Mkuu. Swali linalobaki ni je, ataendelea na wadhifa huo au atapatikana mwingine? Kwa manaibu, Joran Bashange (Bara) na Nassor Ahmed Mazrui inaelezwa wanastaafu nafasi hizo.

Nafasi nyingine inayosubiri kujua ni nani anaikwaa ni Naibu Katibu Mwenezi, Habari na Mahusiano na Umma wa ACTWazalendo kwa sababu aliyekuwa akiiongoza, Janeth Rithe amechaguliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Ngome ya Wanawake.

Kwa mabadiliko ya katiba ya chama hicho, katibu mkuu, naibu katibu wakuu na makatibu wa ngome za chama hicho (Vijana, Wanawake na Wazee) wanateuliwa. Kwa maana hiyo kesho Alhamisi, itafahamika nafasi hizi zote ni kina nani watateuliwa na kikao cha Halmashauri Kuu kitakachoongozwa na Mwenyekiti, Othman.

Mchambuzi wa siasa wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, Dk Richard Mbunda amesema safu mpya ya viongozi hao, itasaidia na itakibeba ACT-Wazalendo kwa sababu ni watu wenye uwezo kueleza hoja hatua itakayokijenga na kukikuza kisiasa chama hicho.

Mtazamo wa Mbunda juu ya safu hiyo ya uongozi inawiana na ile ya mchambuzi wa siasa, Said Msonga ambaye amesema hatua ya ACT-Wazalendo kukakimilisha mchakato wa uchaguzi, imedhihirisha ni chama ambacho kinajipanga na kuonyesha kwa vitendo namna demokrasia inavyotakiwa kuwa ndani ya vyama.

Msonga amesema ACT-Wazalendo imepata viongozi wapya katika uongozi, lakini sio wapya katika chama, kwa sababu walishahudumu nyadhifa mbalimbali na wamekuwa katika siasa kwa muda mrefu.
Wakati wachambuzi hao wa medani za kisiasa wakieleza hayo, Semu akiwahutubia mamia ya wananchi kwenye mkutano wa hadhara wa kutangazwa kwao, amesema uchaguzi wa chama umemalizika, kinachotakiwa sasa ni kufanya kazi kwa pamoja.

“Baada ya joto kubwa la miezi minane ya uchaguzi, sasa tunakwenda kufanya kazi ya kuwasemea Watanzania na matatizo yao,” amesema.

Katika hotuba yake fupi, Semu amesema chama hicho kimejiandaa kushiriki na kushinda uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa mwaka huu pamoja na uchaguzi mkuu mwakani, huku akiwataka viongozi wenzake kwenda kuhamasisha wanachama wajitokeze kushiriki.

Viongozi wa chama cha ACT Wazalendo wakiwa kwenye matembezi kutoka Mlimani City hadi uwanja wa Las Vegas uliopo Mabibo jijini Dar es Salaam, leo Machi 6, 2024, ambapo matokeo ya uchaguzi wa ndani wa chama hicho yalitangazwa katika eneo hilo.

Kwa upande wake, Othman ambaye pia ni Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais Zanzibar  amesema kazi yake kubwa itakuwa kusimamia yale ambayo chama hicho, kiliwaahidi Watanzania kupitia dira yao, akisema wana uwezo na nafasi hiyo na wana dhamira ya kuyatekeleza masuala hayo.

 “Kwa kushirikiana na viongozi wenzangu tunakwenda kujenga chama chetu, kujenga Tanzania ili wananchi watuamini na kutupa fursa katika uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa na uchaguzi wa madiwani, ubunge, uwakilishi na urais ili waone namna ACT-Wazalendo itakayokwenda kuijenga nchi hii.

“Leo sio fursa ya kusema mengi, ila naombeni imani na ushirikiano, niwaahidi tutakwenda kusimamia chama hiki, ili kutekeleza ahadi yetu kwa wananchi wa Tanzania Bara na Zanzibar,” amesema.

Othman kwa mara nyingine amevaa viatu vya Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad  ambaye alifariki Februari 17, 2021.

Miongoni mwa watu ambao Maalim Seif inaelezwa aliwapendekeza enzi za uhai wake kuwa wanaoweza kurithi nafasi ya Umakamu wa Kwanza wa Rais ni Othman. Alipofariki dunia, ACT-Wazalendo waliishi wosia huo na kumpendekeza kuwa Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais. Rais Hussein Mwinyi akamteua na kumwapisha.

…wanaweza kuimudu

Wakiichambua safu hiyo, Dk Mbunda amesema Semu anaweza kuimudu nafasi ya KC, kwa sababu atakuwa anapata ushauri kutoka kwa Zitto na Babu Duni ambao ni wazoefu katika masuala ya siasa. Amesema anamuona akiimudu majukumu ya KC.

Kuhusu Othman, Dk Mbunda amesema ilikuwa lazima kiongozi huyo awe na mamlaka ndani ya ACT-Wazalendo, ili kutekeleza majukumu yake vema, ndio maana baada ya mashauriano Babu Duni aliamua kujitoa na kumuachia agombee peke yake nafasi hiyo.

“Tuna uhakika ACT-Wazalendo itaendelea kujiimarisha kuwa chama kikuu cha upinzani Zanzibar, hatua hii itamsaidia Othman kushawishi ndani ya chama kutumika mara mbili Serikali na ACT,” amesema Dk Mbunda.

Kiongozi wa chama cha ACT Wazalendo aliyemaliza muda wake, Zitto Kabwe akimpongeza kiongozi mpya wa chama hicho, Dorothy Semu kabla ya kumpisha kwenye kiti chake, wakati wa mkutano maalumu wa kutangaza matokeo ya uchaguzi wa ndani wa chama yaliyofanyika katika uwanja wa Las Vegas uliopo Mabibo jijini Dar es Salaam leo Machi 6, 2024.

Naye Msonga amesema: “Katika mazingira ya kawaida sio jambo jepesi kufanya mabadiliko ya kiuongozi kama ambavyo ACT-wamefanya katika hali ya utulivu.

Tumekuwa tukisikia rabsha za hapa na pale kwa baadhi ya vyama hasa nyakati za uchaguzi ikitokea watu wakionyesha nia ya kuwania nafasi zinazoshikiliwa na viongozi wanaonekana ni waasisi au wenye maoni kunakuwa na msuguano.”

Msonga amesema Semu ni mwanamama jasiri ndani ya ACT-Wazalendo, kwa sababu alianza kwa kushika nyadhifa mbalimbali hadi sasa yupo katika nafasi ya KC.

“Ni dhahiri ana uzoefu wa kutosha wa kuendesha siasa, kuelewa falsafa na itikadi ya ACT-Wazalendo. Anaweza kurithi vizuri mikoba ya Zitto ingawa si kwa asilimia 100, kwa sababu kila mwanasiasa ana haiba yake, lakini kwa uzoefu wake ataweza kubeba majukumu haya,” amesema.

“Othman amekuwa katika siasa kwa muda mrefu, uenyekiti wa chama utampa mawanda mapana ya kusukuma ajenda na falsafa ya chama chake na ameshawahi kushika nafasi za juu huko nyuma, ni mtu anayeelewa  masuala ya uongozi,” amesema.

Msonga alisema Jussa na Mchinjita ni wanasiasa wazoefu waliokuwa CUF kabla ya kuhamia ACT-Wazalendo, kwa hiyo wana uelewa mpana namna ya kuendesha siasa za chama hicho.

“Kwa uongozi huu mpya kutakuwa na mwendelezo mzuri wa kupokea mawazo kutoka kwa watangulizi wao ili kuendelea kukitangaza, kukiimarisha na kukijengea ushawishi kwa Watanzania,” amesema Msonga.

Walivyotangazwa washindi

Awali, katika mkutano huo wa hadhara ulioanza kwa maandamano kutoka Mliman City, Katibu Mkuu wa ACT-Wazalendo, Ado Shaibu amesema ilizoeleka matokeo ya uchaguzi kutangazwa ukumbini mara tu baada ya uichaguzi kumalizika.

Amesema chama hicho kimeona kitumie utaratibu mpya na kuichagua Dar es Salaam hususan eneo la Mabibo kuwatangaza viongozi hao wapya.

Akitangaza matokeo, mwenyekiti wa kamati maalumu ya uchaguzi ya ACT-Wazalendo, Joran Bashange amesema mkutano mkuu wa nne wa chama hicho, uliokuwa ajenda ya uchaguzi ambapo Semu alichaguliwa kuwa KC kwa kura 354 (65.7) dhidi ya mpinzani wake, Mbarala Maharagande kura 184 (34.3). Idadi ya wajumbe walikuwa 538.

Bashange alisema kati ya wajumbe 538 waliopiga kura kumchagua Mwenyekiti, mbili ziliharibika huku kura 536 sawa na asilimia 99.6 zilikwenda kwa Othman.

Othman ambaye kitaaluma ni mwanasheria alikuwa akiwania nafasi hiyo pekee yake baada ya Juma Duni Haji maarufu Babu Duni aliyekuwa akitetea nafasi hiyo, kujitoa katika mchakato huo, siku moja kabla mdahalo ulioandaliwa baina yao.

Bashange amesema katika nafasi ya umakamu uenyekiti, Zanzibar Ismail Jussa aliibuka kidedea kwa kupata kura za  ndio 480 sawa na asilimia 94.2. Kama ilivyokuwa kwa Babu Duni, mpinzani wa Jussa,  Hijja  Hassan Hijja naye alijitoa.

Kwa upande wa Tanzania Bara, Bashange amesema wajumbe waliohudhuria  walikuwa 538, kura halali ni 517 na zilizoharibika ni 21 hivyo sawa asilimia 99.09 na Mchinjita alishinda nafasi hiyo.

Mwenyekiti mpya wa ACT-Wazalendo, Othman Masoud Othman akizungumza jambo na kiongozi wa chama hicho, Zitto Kabwe aliyemaliza muda wake.

Kibarua safu mpya

Viongozi wapya wa  ACT-Wazalendo, wanakabiliwa na majukumu mbalimbali mbele yao, ikiwemo kuhakikisha maridhiano baina yao na CCM yanakwenda kwa ufanisi, Zanzibar, kushinda uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa, vijiji na vitongoji na uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2025.

Pia, kufanya ziara katika maeneo mbalimbali kwa ajili ya kukiimarisha chama hicho, sambamba ya kuitangaza dira ya chao ya ‘Ahadi Yetu’ yenye lengo la kujenga Taifa la wote kwa maslahi ya wote.

Kabla ya kufanya mkutano huo, viongozi hao walifanya maandamano yaliyodumu umbali wa kilomita sita yakipita maeneo mbalimbali ikiwemo Ubungo, Urafiki Daraja la Kijazi, hatua iliyosababisha baadhi ya watumiaji wa barabara hizo kusubiri kwa muda ili kupisha msafara huo.

Maandamano hayo yalipita barabara za Sam Nujoma na Morogoro na kuhitimishwa Las Vegas Mabibo ambako kulifanyika mkutano kwa lengo la kutangaza matokeo uchaguzi na safu mpya ya viongozi waliochaguliwa.

Ifahamu safu mpya,

Dorothy Semu

Dorothy alizaliwa Julai 13, 1975 na kufanikiwa kupata elimu katika ngazi mbalimbali ikiwemo elimu ya sekondari katika Shule ya Weruweru na baadaye alijiunga na masomo ya kidato cha tano na sita shule ya Lutheran Junior Seminary kati ya mwaka 1993 – 1995.

Baada ya elimu ya sekondari, alijiunga na Chuo cha KCMC kwa masomo ya stashahada ya tiba mazoezi (physiotherapy) kati ya mwaka 1995 – 1998. Baadaye mwaka 2001 – 2002, alisoma shahada ya tiba mazoezi (Bsc.Physiotherapy) katika Chuo Kikuu cha Western Cape kilichopo Afrika Kusini.

Baada ya kumaliza masomo yake alifanya kazi katika Wizara ya Afya kama ofisa kwenye kampeni ya kutokomeza magonjwa ya ukoma na kifua kikuu. Hata hivyo, aliamua kuacha kazi mwaka 2015 ili awe huru kufanya siasa.

Baada ya kuingia kwenye siasa, aliamua kujiunga na chama cha ACT- Wazalendo ambacho wakati huo kilikuwa na mwaka mmoja tangu kilipopata usajili wa kudumu 2014 kama chama cha siasa Tanzania na huo ukawa ndiyo mwanzo wa safari yake kisiasa.

Ndani ya chama, Dorothy amekuwa Katibu Mkuu kuanzia mwaka 2017 – 2020, amekuwa makamu mwenyekiti kuanzia mwaka 2020 – 2024 na aliwahi kukaimu nafasi ya mwenyekiti kwa mwaka mmoja baada ya kifo cha Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad.

Vilevile, amekuwa akiongoza baraza kivuli lililoundwa na aliyekuwa Kiongozi wa Chama (KC), Zitto Kabwe, akiwa ni Waziri Mkuu kivuli tangu Februari 2022 – 2024. Sasa amechaguliwa kuiwa Kiongozi wa Chama akichukua nafasi ya Zitto.

Othman Masoud Othman

Othman Masoud Othman alizaliwa Kijiji cha Pandani, wilaya ya Wete, mkoa wa Kaskazini Pemba, mwaka 1963, baba yake akiwa ni Sheikh Masoud Bin Othman.

Alipata elimu ya msingi katika shule ya Pandani na baadaye Sekondari ya Fidel Castro, Chake Chake, Kusini Pemba.

Baadaye alijiunga na Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam kwa Shahada ya Kwanza katika Sheria (LLB). Baada ya Chuo Kikuu alirejea Zanzibar na kuajiriwa na Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar (SMZ) katika Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria kama Wakili.

Alikwenda kusoma Chuo Kikuu cha London ambako alipata shahada ya pili ya sheria (LL.M). Baada ya masomo aliteuliwa kuwa Katibu Mkuu katika Wizara ya Utawala Bora na Sheria chini ya Dk Salmin Amour, baadaye akawa Mkurugenzi wa Mashtaka Zanzibar chini ya Amani Karume na Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali (AG) chini ya Dk Ali Mohamed Shein.

Kiongozi mpya wa ACT-Wazalendo, Dorothy Semu akifurahia na wanachama wengine baada ya kutangazwa kurithi nafasi iliyoachwa na mtangulizi wake Zitto Kabwe.

Wakati wa Bunge la Katiba, msimamo wake ulimfanya afukuzwe nafasi hiyo.

Agosti 2014 alijiunga na CUF hadi mwaka 2020 alipohamia ACT- Wazalendo. Hatimaye Machi 21, 2021 alitangazwa kuwa Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar akichukua nafasi ya Maalim Seif ambaye alifariki dunia Februari 17, 2021.

Januari 29, 2022, Othman alichaguliwa kuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa ACT Wazalendo (Zanzibar), nafasi anayoitumikia hadi Machi 6, 2024 kabla ya kuchaguliwa kuwa mwenyekiti wa chama hicho. Othman pia ni Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar.

Ismail Jussa

Jussa ni mmoja wa wanafunzi waaminifu wa aliyekuwa mwenyekiti wa ACT Wazalendo, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad na alipohamia ACT- Wazalendo akitokea Chama cha Wananchi (Cuf), Jussa alihama naye.

Alizaliwa Agosti 18, 1971 huko Zanzibar na katika ujana wake alijikuta akiingia kwenye siasa za upinzani, wakati huo akiwa mwanachama wa CUF ambapo alifanikiwa kuwa mjumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi la Zanzibar.

Jussa alijitosa kugombea nafasi ya kiongozi wa chama dhidi ya Zitto kwenye uchaguzi wa Machi 2020, hata hivyo Zitto alichaguliwa kwa kipindi cha pili. Anaamini kwamba ana uwezo wa kukiongoza chama hicho.

Kabla ya Jussa kuchaguliwa kuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti-Zanzibar alikuwa mjumbe wa kamati kuu ya ACT Wazalendo. Amechukua nafasi ya Othman ambaye yeye amechaguliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti. Jussa ana uzoefu alioupata kutokana na nafasi mbalimbali alizokuwa nazo CUf.

Issihaka Mchinjita

Mchinjita alizaliwa January 9, 1983 huko Nyangao mkoani Lindi. Alifanikiwa kupata elimu ya msingi katika shule ya msingi Mahiwa kati ya mwaka 1992 – 1998 kabla ya kujiunga na shule ya sekondari Chidya Wavulana kati ya mwaka 1999 – 2002.

Baadaye mwaka 2003, kada huyo wa ACT Wazalendo alijiunga na sekondari ya Tosamaganga iliyopo mkoani Iringa kwa masomo ya kidato cha tano ambapo alihitimu mwaka 2005 kabla ya kujiunga na chuo cha ualimu cha Al Haramain na kufanikiwa kupata stashahada ya ualimu.

Kati ya mwaka 2017 – 2023, Mchinjita amesoma shahada ya sheria (LLB) katika Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania (OUT).

Kabla ya kuhamia ACT- Wazalendo mwaka 2019, Mchinjita alikuwa kada na kiongozi wa CUF ambapo amekitumikia chama hicho nafasi mbalimbali ikiwemo mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Vijana wa CUF (Juvicuf) na mgombea ubunge wa CUF katika jimbo la Mtama katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2015.

Vilevile, Mchinjita alikuwa mkurugenzi wa uchaguzi wa CUF katika wilaya ya Lindi kati yam waka 2014 – 2019 kabla ya kuhamia ACT- Wazalendo na kuchaguliwa kuwa mwenyekiti wa chama hicho mkoa wa Lindi, nafasi anayoitumikia hadi sasa.

Source: mwananchi.co.tz

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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
Chief Editor

Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns

Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way

The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.

The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.

The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.

“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”

Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.

It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.

But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.

Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.

The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.

A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.

Two more to the list

The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.

The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.

Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.

Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).

Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”

In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”

Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.

Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.

“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”

Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.

For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.

The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.

Source: allafrica.com

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Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
Chief Editor

Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model

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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