.....Zero Preventable Maternal deaths,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 29 May 2026. The Government of Tanzania, in collaboration with UNFPA and with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), has successfully concluded a two-day event marking the handover of Learning Corner equipment to health facilities and a Ministry of Health (MoH) Coordination Vehicle under the Strengthening Midwifery in Tanzania (SMIT) project, known as Thamini Uzazi Salama. The event brought together government officials, development partners, health workers, and community representatives to witness key milestones in improving maternal and newborn health services.
The event followed field visits in Kinondoni District, where stakeholders engaged directly with health facilities and Community Health Workers (CHWs) to observe progress in service delivery and community-level interventions. The official handover ceremony underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening health systems and ensuring sustainable investments in midwifery training and service delivery across Dar es Salaam and Shinyanga regions.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) commended the partnership and emphasized the importance of continued investment in health workforce development.
“The Government of Tanzania remains committed to ensuring that every mother and newborn has access to quality care. The Learning Corners and coordination support provided through this project will significantly enhance the skills of our health workers and strengthen service delivery at facility level,” said Dr. Grace Magembe, CMO
The CMO further noted that such investments are critical in accelerating progress toward national and global health targets.
“This initiative reflects strong collaboration and demonstrates how strategic partnerships can deliver tangible results for our communities. “We will continue to build on these achievements to ensure sustainability and long-term impact,” Dr. Grace Maghembe, the CMO, added.
UNFPA Tanzania Representative, Mark Bryan Schreiner, highlighted the importance of partnerships in advancing maternal health outcomes and building resilient health systems.
“This milestone demonstrates what can be achieved through strong collaboration between the Government of Tanzania, UNFPA, and Global Affairs Canada. By investing in midwives and learning environments, we are investing in safer pregnancies and healthier futures for women and newborns,” he said.
He further emphasized the broader impact of the project beyond infrastructure.
“The SMIT project is not only about equipment—it is about empowering midwives with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to provide quality care. These investments will have a lasting impact on communities and contribute to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” Schreiner added.
At the facility level, midwives have already begun to experience the benefits of the new equipment.
Elizabeth Kawogo, a midwife from one of the supported health facilities, shared her experience: “The Learning Corner has transformed how we learn and practice. We now have access to practical tools that help us improve our skills and provide better care to mothers and babies.”
She added that the improvements are already being felt by both health workers and patients. “With these resources, we are more confident in managing complications and delivering quality services. This will directly contribute to saving lives in our community,” Kawogo said.
In his remarks Mr. Kevin Tokar acting Head of Cooperation, from the Canadian High Commission, noted that the support provided reflects Canada and Tanzania’s commitment to improving the health of mothers and newborn across the country. Today’s handover of learning equipment provides critical tools for midwives to have the skills, confidence and ability to respond when it matters most to safe the lives of mothers and newborns. With continued investment, we can help ensure that every woman has access to skilled care, every child has a healthy start, and every community is stronger and more resilient.
Strengthening midwifery coordination and training in Tanzania: Two coordination vehicles have been officially handed over to the Ministry of Health Tanzania to support the Nursing and Midwifery Department and the Training Department in advancing quality maternal and newborn healthcare services.
The learning corner equipment provided through the Thamini Uzazi Salama project is being distributed to 30 health facilities across Shinyanga and Dar es Salaam regions to strengthen the skills and expertise of professional midwives, supporting improved maternal and newborn healthcare services.
Note to Editors:
The Strengthening Midwifery in Tanzania (SMIT) project, locally known as Thamini Uzazi Salama, is a seven-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by UNFPA in partnership with the Government of Tanzania. The project aims to increase the availability of skilled and empowered midwives to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and improve access to quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in selected districts of Shinyanga and Dar es Salaam regions.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Warren Bright,
UNFPA Communications Analyst,
United Republic of Tanzania
Phone: +255 764 43 44 45
Email: bwarren@unfpa.org
