Tanzania - Kigoma Reducing Maternal Mortality Project

The Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/DRH) conducts monitoring and evaluation activities for a maternal mortality reduction initiative in a remote western region of Tanzania where mortality rates are particularly high. Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and its partner Fondation H&B Agerup, the Reducing Maternal Mortality in Tanzania Project supports the Tanzania Ministry of Health to improve maternity services (both quality and access) in Kigoma Region.

CDC/DRH conducts periodic evaluations to assess the initiative’s progress in improving maternal and neonatal health services as a result of the work of the partner organizations. It looks at changes in the following areas:

• Service accessibility (lower level health facilities have been upgraded and staff have been trained by partner Thamini Uhai so that advanced obstetric care is more widely available)
• Service quality (facilities have been upgraded and health staff have been trained to provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care by partner Thamini Uhai)
• Demand and use of maternal health and family planning services (mass media and community education efforts have been implemented by partner EngenderHealth)
• Reproductive health indicators (which are influenced by all the project activities)