Unguja. The inaugural Zanzibar Global Health Film Festival concluded over the weekend, leaving a lasting impression on its participants and showcasing the immense power of storytelling in driving collective action.
Organised by Wajamama, a movement dedicated to enhancing the holistic well-being of communities in Zanzibar—and Global Health Film, an organization committed to fostering understanding and empathy through film, this first-of-its-kind event brought together policymakers, grassroots organizations, visionaries, and funders from around the world.
It demonstrated that when diverse and passionate minds meet, true progress can be made.
The festival transcended geography, reminding attendees that struggles are deeply interconnected, regardless of where they live or their individual experiences.
Although the films screened were not from Zanzibar, they resonated profoundly with local audiences. The shared experiences and challenges depicted highlighted the necessity of collective action to overcome common obstacles.
Critical health issues addressed included mental health, aging, gender-based violence, and climate change, revealing the universality of these struggles.
For example one film detailed Australia’s alarming suicide rates, contrasting sharply with the narrative that Africa alone faces the most significant hardships.
The perspective shift was eye-opening for many, illustrating that health struggles can be universal. Through the shared stories, the festival fostered empathy and inspired participants to think about health and social justice on a global scale.
“The Global Health Film Festival was exactly what we need in Zanzibar: a platform where communities can discuss more than just physical health. This year’s debut featured films on mental health, an area where many are unfamiliar but affects so many of us on the Isles. It is great to see that we can now honestly and openly have these discussions,” said Ms. Fatma Khamis, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Trade & Industrial Development.
A significant aspect of the event was the participation of film directors, who joined discussions virtually via Zoom.
This allowed viewers to gain insights into the stories and motivations behind the films. A standout moment occurred during the screening of ‘I Am Belmaya’, which tells the powerful story of a young Nepali woman fighting for her and her daughter’s rights through filmmaking.
The Zanzibar Global Health Film Festival also addressed a common challenge faced by grassroots organizations across Africa—limited access to international forums.
Many changemakers cannot attend global health conferences due to logistical and financial barriers. By bringing the world to Zanzibar, the festival created an accessible space for those often excluded from vital global conversations.
The film screenings, panel discussions, and networking opportunitiesbrought collective healing moments. Participants reflected on their struggles and those faced by their communities, finding solidarity in shared challenges.
For many grassroots organizations and visionaries, it can be isolating to work tirelessly without recognition or support.
However, at the festival, attendees discovered a community that understood their challenges, reinforcing the notion that no global health struggle is faced in isolation.
The festival created a space for connection, collaboration, and the potential to establish Zanzibar as a hub for well-being and global discourse.
“The inaugural Global Health Film Festival 2024 has been a groundbreaking event, revolutionising the film industry in Zanzibar and beyond by providing a platform for critical discussions and laying the groundwork for future socio-economic transformations.
This festival has opened up new avenues for addressing contemporary challenges, fostering innovative approaches to confronting the realities of change,” stated Dr. Mohammed Makame, Vice Chancellor of the State University in Zanzibar.
Panel discussions were a highlight of the festival, offered attendees the chance to engage with the films on a deeper level.
Filmmakers, health experts, activists, and policymakers reflected on the themes within the films, providing context from their own experiences.
The discussions were both theoretical and practical, addressing real and complex issues in global health. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to interact with panelists who have been on the front lines of global health battles, fostering understanding and inspiring new approaches to tackle similar challenges in their own communities.
While the festival showcased notable short films made by Tanzanians, including animation by TAI Impact during the pre-festival event, attendees expressed a desire to see more local stories.
Some questioned the absence of films from Zanzibar, highlighting the importance of showcasing local talent in a space often dominated by narratives that depict the African continent as one in need of saving.
The festival took a different approach, allowing audience members to witness global health issues from various perspectives while demonstrating the universality of struggles.
For instance, the film ‘Live Till I Die’ showcased vibrant, fulfilling lives led by elderly people in Sweden. This portrayal served as a reminder that life continues at any age, offering an eye-opening perspective for many in Zanzibar, where access to such portrayals is rare.
The inaugural Zanzibar Global Health Film Festival was an inspiring and unifying event. More than a showcase of films, it was a journey that exposed local and global audiences to diverse ways of living, underscoring the importance of global solidarity in addressing health challenges.
Wajamama is set to host the next Global Health Film Festival from August 28-31, 2025. The festival aims to continue sparking dialogue on global health issues and driving change.
Organizers hope to showcase more local talent to highlight excellence within Zanzibar and the broader African continent, challenging the disempowering narratives often associated with African struggles.
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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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