• Tanzania has a persistently high maternal mortality rate, with 556 women dying per 100,000 live births (USAID 2018).
• Tanzania failed to reach 2015 the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) goal (133 deaths per 100,000 live births).  Previous improvements were eroded. In the Arusha Region (Maternity Africa’s locality) the MMR in 2012 was 585 deaths per 100,000 live births, over 35% higher than the national average (of 432).
• In Tanzania, an average of 8,100 women die annually (average 22 daily) because of pregnancy-related complications. UNDP states that Tanzania is most challenged by slow progress in reducing maternal mortality.
• The World Health Organization states that the main direct causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorder and obstructed labour. Over 50% births in Tanzania occur at home, contributing to high maternal mortality; only 46% of all women are assisted during childbirth by a skilled birth attendant.

Project goal

To make childbirth safe for vulnerable and marginalized women and girls in Tanzania.

Activities

• At the new facility in Northern Tanzania, Kivulini Maternity Centre, the full range of maternal healthcare services, and comprehensive family planning is provided.
• All of the services offered are free of charge, so that no-one gets left behind.
• Activities include:
  • Patient recruitment: community outreach programmes, partner referrals, word-of-mouth peer referrals.
  • Antenatal care: laboratory tests (haemoglobin, syphilis, HIV, malaria, urine analysis, blood group), fundal height, fetal heart rate, position of baby, vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature), ultrasound, doctor's consultation on indication, iron/folic acid supplements, education about danger signs in pregnancy.
  • Intrapartum care: appropriate intermittent monitoring of maternal and fetal condition once in active labour, use of partograph, care during delivery and active third stage of labour, immediate CEmONC, if necessary.
  • Postpartum care: checking vital signs, checking haemoglobin, examination of baby, vaccinations (polio, tuberculosis), support for breastfeeding.
  • Comprehensive family planning services: counselling, advice, treatments: long-acting reversible and short-term contraception techniques and permanent methods.
• Clinical guidelines and protocols are based on good, evidence-based practices that are sensible in low-resource settings.

Cost

Average cost for one normal delivery is CAD 136, including essential hospital running costs

Maternity Africa

Myriad Canada is working with Maternity Africa on this project, a not-for-profit organization established in Tanzania in 2013.  Maternity Africa endeavours to provide fistula treatment and maternal healthcare services for vulnerable and marginalised women and girls of childbearing age.  Until 2018, it provided these services at other hospital facilities in and around Arusha City.  However, in June 2018, Maternity Africa opened its brand-new, purpose-built 48-bed facility that is equipped with its own laboratory, pharmacy, operating theatre and class-room.  Maternity Africa has a contract with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children to provide medical services up to December 2022.  It also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arusha District Council to provide its services free of charge to poor women, and various other agreements with partner organisations serving similar beneficiary groups.