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Tanzania - Expanding Critical Health Services for Women and Children

The core aspect of the WLF program in Tanzania is to decrease maternal and infant mortality through targeted enhancements of emergency obstetric care in rural health centers. Specifically, the WLF program is funding the renovation and construction of key infrastructure; building the capacity of health care providers through intensive trainings; and equipping trained staff with the necessary tools to carry out their jobs.

During a March 2010 visit to Tanzania I had the opportunity to see both the sad necessity for the program, as well as the very visible accomplishments thus far.

Mtimbira Health Center is located in the remote, and beautiful, mountainous Morogorro region. While there, we were informed of a young mother who, only days before, had died en route to the nearby referral hospital. This tragic case is a clear example of the necessity of our work and a sad reality for many women in remote regions of the country. The young woman, who was experiencing an obstructed labor, was unable to deliver and had to be rushed to the nearest referral hospital. Sadly neither she, nor the child, survived the journey.

Mtimbira has since officially opened their new maternal surgery ward, allowing for Caesarean sections and other operations to be undertaken on site. Surgeries for obstructed labor have been ongoing since that time.

Not far from Mtimbira is the Mwaya Health Center, which has undergone similar renovations. In early March, we had the chance to officially "open" the new surgical theater and maternity ward, and then were invited to sit in on the first surgery. It was quite an experience. Trained staff performed two surgeries that day. In the first, they tied the fallopian tubes of a woman who, having had numerous children and little funds for contraceptives, wished to halt any additional burden on both her health and her family's livelihood. During the second surgery, physicians successfully performed a Caesarean section for a woman who was experiencing obstructed labor.

Both surgeries were successful, professionally done, and quite inspiring.

Acknowledging the difficulties and burden on those living in remote regions, WLF has been working to ensure women and children in rural Tanzania have access to life-saving care. It was good to see the objectives and goals of the program coming to such tangible fruition.