Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania imeshika nafasi ya pili Afrika Mashariki na ya tisa kati ya nchi kumi bora barani Afrika zenye wanasayansi bora waliotoa mchango mkubwa katika ulimwengu wa sayansi, kwa mujibu wa orodha iliyotolewa na jarida la kimataifa la sayansi (AD Scientific Index 2023).
Duniani, Tanzania ni miongoni mwa nchi 100 vinara zenye wanasayansi bora, hivyo imeshika nafasi ya 96 kutokana na kazi nzuri ya wanasayansi 10 kutoka Taasisi ya Afya ya Ifakara (Ihi). Taasisi hiyo imeshika nafasi ya kwanza kati ya vyuo vikuu/taasisi 55 nchini zilizofanyiwa tathmini.
Wanasayansi 10 ni pamoja na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa taasisi hiyo Dk Honorati Masanja ambaye machapisho yake 103 yalivutia nukuu 6,691. Wengine ambao machapisho na nukuu viko kwenye mabano ni Dk Sarah Moore (machapisho 96 , nukuu 5,997).
Dk Fredros Okumu (machapisho 95, nukuu 5,240), Dk Nicodem Govella (machapisho 38, nukuu 2,890), Dk Ally Olotu (machapisho 36, nukuu 3,366) na Dk Eveline Geubbels (machapisho 46, nukuu za 2,051).
Wanasayansi wengine ni Dk Dickson Wilson (machapisho 27, nukuu 1,599), Dk Samson Kiware (machapisho 30, nukuu 1,160), Halfan Ngowo (machapisho 29, nukuu 944) na Dk Dominic Mosha (machapisho 22, nukuu 885).
Kwa mujibu wa jarida hilo, mfumo wa upangaji viwango ulizingatia idadi ya wanasayansi waliobobea na kwamba vigezo mbalimbali vilitumika kuziorodhesha nchi hizo. Ya kwanza ilitokana na idadi ya wanasayansi katika orodha ya asilimia mbili bora ambapo kigezo cha pili kiliamuliwa na idadi ya wanasayansi katika asilimia 10 bora, asilimia 20 ya juu, asilimia 40 ya juu, asilimia 60 ya juu na orodha ya juu ya asilimia 80.
Wakati vigezo vya mwisho vilivyotumika viliamuliwa na idadi ya wanasayansi walioorodheshwa kwenye jarida la kimataifa la sayansi la AD na kwa upande wa usawa baada ya kutumia vigezo vyote vitatu, kiwango cha ulimwengu cha mwanasayansi mahiri wa nchi husika, kilitumika.
Kiutendaji, waandaaji wa jarida hilo walichambua tafiti za kitaaluma kutoka nchi 216, na vyuo vikuu/taasisi 19,525, na wanasayansi 1,223,175 kwa kutumia vigezo vingi kuwasilisha matokeo yatakayotumika kutathmini tija na ufanisi kwa watu binafsi na taasisi.
Ripoti hiyo imebainisha taasisi 10 bora za kitaaluma na utafiti za Tanzania kwa kuzingatia sifa za kisayansi za wanasayansi washirika.
Orodha hiyo ambayo kwa hadhi zao imetawaliwa na taasisi za umma ni pamoja na Ihi, Muhas, Sua, Nimr, NM-AIST, CUHAS Bugando, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (Udsm), KCMUCo, Chuo Kikuu cha Mzumbe (Mu) na Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma (Udom).
Kuhusu wanasayansi 10 bora nchini wenye tija katika kuchapisha kazi za thamani za kisayansi, jarida hilo liliwataja Profesa Rudovick Kazwala (Sua), akifuatiwa na Profesa Sayoki Mfinanga (Nimr).
Wengine ni Dk Honorati Masanja (Ihi), Profesa Stephen Mshana (CUHAS Bugando), Dk Sarah Moore (Ihi) na Profesa Patrick Ndakidemi ( NM-AIST). Wanasayansi wengine kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo ni Profesa Karim Manji (Muhas), Dk Fredros Okumu (Ihi), Dk Bruno Sunguya (Muhas) na Profesa Rachel Manongi ( KCMUCo).
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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
Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy
Unguja. Opposition party ACT Wazalendo today officially bids farewell to its former Chairman, Juma Duni Haji, also known as Babu Duni, as part of a new policy designed to honor retired senior leaders at a ceremony held at Kiembesamaki, Zanzibar.
The initiative highlights the party’s commitment to recognizing and supporting individuals who have served with dedication and integrity.
Babu Duni, who stepped down earlier this year, was succeeded by Othman Masoud, now the First Vice President of Zanzibar.
The policy aims to provide ongoing respect and support to retired leaders, ensuring their continued recognition and contribution to the party’s development.
“Recognizing their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the party, this policy ensures that retired leaders continue to be acknowledged and respected by both the party and the community,” the policy states.
To benefit from this policy, leaders must not have left or been expelled from the party. They must have served the party with honor and dedication. The national leadership committee will determine whether a leader has fulfilled these criteria.
The policy seeks to honor retired leaders, protect their dignity, acknowledge their contributions, leverage their ideas for the party’s growth, and support them to the best of the party’s ability.
In honoring these leaders, the party will provide a vehicle, the type of which will be determined by the national leadership committee. Additionally, they will receive a monthly allowance, with the amount also set by this committee.
Other benefits include health insurance. If a leader does not own a home, the party will cover their rent at a rate decided by the committee.
The leadership committee may also grant special recognition based on the leader’s contributions. Retired leaders will participate in decision-making meetings according to procedures outlined in the party’s constitution.
Depending on the party’s resources at the time, the policy may also apply to retired deputy chairpersons for both the mainland and Zanzibar, the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General for both mainland and Zanzibar, and the party’s Attorney General.
Additionally, leaders, executives, or members with exceptional contributions to the party’s protection, advocacy, and defense may also benefit, as determined by the leadership committee.
Currently, those who are eligible for benefits under this policy include Juma Duni Haji (retired party Chairman) and Zitto Kabwe (retired party leader).Continue Reading
Concerns mount over Zanzibar new $44 travel insurance fee
Tour operators, hoteliers, tourists, and tourism stakeholders are raising alarms over Zanzibar’s new mandatory $44 travel insurance fee, set to take effect on September 1.Continue Reading
