Uzazi Uzima (Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Underserved Areas in Tanzania)

The Uzazi Uzima project aims to improve health conditions and reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in five (5) districts of Simiyu region, namely Bariadi DC/TC, Busega, Itilima, Maswa, and Meatu. The Simiyu region, located in the Lake Zone, has been identified as a priority by the Government of Tanzania due to its high mortality rate in the country. In general, Tanzania’s maternal mortality ratio has been on the increase, rising from 432 per 100,000 live births in 2012 to 556 in 2015/2016. This project aims to address key gaps uncovered during implementation and evaluation of a previous Global Affairs Canada-funded reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) project implemented by Amref Tanzania under GAC’s Muskoka Initiative to incorporate strategies that investigate causes of maternal deaths, including the recent increase in maternal mortality, and other RMNCAH challenges. This will be accomplished through an age and sex disaggregated baseline survey, various qualitative data collection methods, a gender analysis, close collaboration with health and governmental bodies, partner organizations and local communities in order to achieve long-term sustainability of project results. All of the strategies and partnerships outlined above will be approached through a gender lens, actively seeking out ways to improve the decision-making power of women and girls, to advance their human rights and improve their access to and control over their health decisions.

Project activities will be carried out over a four-year period (January 2017-December 2020). On the demand side, the project will (1) improve delivery of quality maternal and newborn services through enhancing knowledge and skills among health workers (HWs) to deliver RMNCAH services, nutrition counselling and WASH services, (2) refurbishing / rehabilitating health facilities / dispensaries and WASH infrastructure, including provision of equipment, and (3) strengthening gender responsive health management systems. On the supply side, the project will focus on (4) increasing utilization of services through awareness building and sensitization activities and through conducting advocacy activities related to RMNCAH care and on (5) strengthening community and government engagement across all tiers. The project will target directly 683,081 women of reproductive age, girls, adolescents, children and men, and indirectly reach 1,1751,005 women of reproductive age, girls, adolescents, children and men.

This project is implemented by the lead agency, Amref Health Africa in Canada in partnership with Amref Health Africa in Tanzania, Marie Stopes Tanzania, and Deloitte, as a service partner with technical support from the Institute for International Programs Johns Hopkins University (IIP-JHU).