Around the world, a woman dies every two minutes due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Despite significant progress, Tanzania still bears one of the heaviest burdens of maternal deaths worldwide. In response to this urgent need, the Tanzania Ministry of Health, local implementation partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation came together to launch the Maternal and Reproductive Health Program. Made possible through the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Fondation H&B Agerup, the goal of the program was to improve access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care, elevate the quality of care at birth, strengthen referral systems and generate greater demand for maternal health services in Kigoma Region.
History and Impact
Since 2012, CDC and the CDC Foundation have collaborated with the program partners to support monitoring and evaluation activities. In 2015, the partners introduced a sustainability framework that would ensure the program’s continued and long-term impact. By 2019, the regional health management team at the Ministry of Health took ownership of the program—ensuring that the program’s gains would be preserved and expanded over time.
The impact of the program has been significant. Evaluation results show that between 2013 and 2018, the Kigoma region saw significant reductions in maternal and child deaths, saving the lives of an estimated 2,100 women from pregnancy-related complications. The program also saw additional significant successes, including:
- Maternal mortality rate in health facilities declined by 43 percent
- Deliveries in healthcare facilities increased to 74 percent
- Pre-discharge neonatal mortality rate declined by 29 percent
Despite progress, Tanzania suffers one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.
The CDC Foundation and The Tanzania Ministry of Health shared the results of a comprehensive sustainability evaluation in Tanzania in June.
Celebrating Success
To highlight these successes, The Tanzania Ministry of Health and CDC Foundation held an event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on June 5, 2025, to share the results of the comprehensive sustainability evaluation and celebrate the enduring maternal health improvements in Kigoma Region. Leaders from the Ministry of Health and President’s Office of Regional Administration and Local Government joined implementers and clinicians in Kigoma Region and other key stakeholders to share how a 13-year investment sustained maternal health gains long after the program was implemented.
“Before this program, there were no hospitals [in Kigoma Region]. Pregnant women had to travel very far, sometimes by boat, to get to a strong hospital and if they had a postpartum hemorrhage, the outcomes were not good in that situation,” said Dr. Sunday Dominico, MD, MMed, director of programs, Thamini Uhai “We did many trainings, we strengthened referrals, we gave them equipment, we did many things to improve the health system, and we achieved results.”
Dr. Neena Prasad, Bloomberg Philanthropies, took the opportunity to recognize the lead author for the evaluation project, as well as the others involved. “CDC and CDC Foundation, led by Florina [Serbanescu, subject matter expert], did an amazing job, these evaluations are a massive, massive effort. I also want to acknowledge all the frontline health workers, the true heroes on whose backs these results were sustained.”
Among the speakers at the event was Florina Serbanescu, the lead author of the evaluation.
The Tanzania event provided an opportunity to celebrate the enduring maternal health improvements in the country's Kigoma Region.
Looking Ahead
The Maternal and Reproductive Health Program is a testament to what can be achieved when local ownership, dedicated investment, true collaboration and ongoing evaluation come together to improve maternal health and transform lives. In Tanzania and around the world, targeted investments in maternal health can create lasting change, transform communities and benefit generations to come—a success to be both celebrated and sustained. “There is no reason for a woman to die of postpartum hemorrhage in Kigoma Region,” said Dr. Mzee Nassoro, assistant director, Reproductive, Maternal, and Neonatal Health Division, Tanzania Ministry of Health. “We are living on one planet. We are very appreciative of this project, and we will sustain it.”
