Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By Emmanuel Kihaule
Communications Advisor-Plan International Tanzania
Friday March 12, 2010
At the 3rd Forum on the African Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia
© Plan
Plan at a glance
Who we are
When we started
• Founded over 70 years ago, one of the oldest and largest international development
• Plan works with and for children, their families, communities and governments to
© Plan
Our Vision
• Our vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies which
respect people’s rights and dignity and therefore empower children to realize their basic
• In Tanzania Plan started implementing its programmes in 1991 and has projects in Dar es
© Plan
A grim picture
• Tanzania is among the top ten sub-Saharan African countries contributing to 61% of global maternal
• The country loses 8000 women annually due to maternal health complications (TDHS 2004/2005)
• The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has remained consistently high over the past ten years currently
• Only 46% of births are attended by a skilled birth attendant meaning that 54% give birth at home with
• The country only has 32% of the qualified staff needed (TDHS 2004/2005)
© Plan
grim picture contd.
• Children below five years constitute about 16% of the population, however, they account for 50
• In Plan supported areas the maternal mortality rates are also high and range between 217/100,000 in
• Infant and under five mortality rates are also high whereby the under five mortality rate ranges from
• Poor budget allocation/prioritization (the available budget could have been distributed better)
• Low education among the public (infant and child mortality is highest in women without education)
,
• Traditional beliefs and practices e.g. on malnutrition immunisation among others.
© Plan
Causes
Major direct causes of maternal mortality include obstetric hemorrhage, obstructed labour and
pregnancy induced hypertension.
Most of these deaths are due to preventable diseases like malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea,
HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and neonatal conditions.
According to annual Health Statistical Abstract Tanzania mainland 2008, severe malaria is the
main killer disease and in 2006 alone it accounted for 33% of all under five deaths, followed by
pneumonia 13%, anemia 13% and diarrhea 5%.
© Plan
Safe motherhood and child survival campaign in Tanzania
Background
•Born in March 2004 the White Ribbon Alliance of Tanzania resulted from the attendance of
some of its founding members to;
Objective
To advocate for maternal, newborn and child health in Tanzania in response to high maternal, infant
and child mortality rates.
Membership
In March 2004 (when launched) WRATZ had 13 members only but now it has 2500 individual
members and 107 member organizations both local and international. Fast growing.
© Plan
The campaign’s front
• Awareness creation campaigns throughout the country including mass and community media,
communications support materials, community dialogues, house to house visits, dialogues with Govt
• Advocacy e.g. for policy change/enforcement, more budgetary allocation, improvement of healthcare
service delivery to mothers and children, the rolling-out of IMCI (Integrated Management of
• Facilitating access to health services to mothers, newborns and children including PMTCT (by some
members).
• Annual celebrations to mark the Safe Motherhood and Child Survival Day (see advocacy package)
© Plan
Achievements
• Infant mortality rate improved from 68 in 2004 (TDHS 2004/2005) to 58 per 1,000 live births
in 2008 and the under-five mortality has declined from 112 in 2004 to 91 per 1000 live births
• Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services have been rolled out
• Enhanced political will on the country’s leadership e.g. full support and participation of top
most Government officials i.e. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers, First Ladies etc.
• Ever expanding membership base with commitments to take the work to higher levels
© Plan
Challenges
• Maternal (neonatal) mortality has remained the same in the past 10 years
• Though slightly dropped, infant and under five mortality rates still unacceptably high
• Traditional and cultural beliefs/practices are die hard elements in our society
© Plan
Hope/commitments by Government
• The National Road Map Strategic Plan to accelerate Reduction of maternal, Newborn and
• Plan by the Government under the Primary Health Services Development Program (PHSDP) 2007-
2017 to construct 3088 dispensaries, 19 district hospitals, 95 maternity waiting homes and 2,074 health
centers.
• Under the Plan, services provided by health centers and district hospitals focusing on maternal health
will be improved through strengthening 2555 health centers and 62 district hospitals.
• This has already begun in several parts of the country starting with those in dire need.
MDG 4. Reduce child mortality ■ Reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate of children under five
MDG 5. Improve maternal health ■ Reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio
© Plan
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
© Plan