Medical Equipment Donation Supports Sexual and Reproductive Health in Rural Areas
Dodoma - Medical equipment, an ambulance, and renovated spaces, including an operating theatre and maternity ward, were handed over to the Chamwino District Council in a ceremony today at Dabalo Health Centre in Dodoma. This donation, funded by the Government of Denmark and facilitated by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is part of a 2.3 million US dollar project that focused on enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health in rural Tanzania, and has enhanced the safety of tens of thousands of births.
The contribution of equipment and renovated space at Dabalo Health Centre enables the provision of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services. Through the same effort, three dispensaries in Chamwino (specifically Itiso, Manda and Nhinhi dispensaries) received donations of medical equipment to facilitate health services including basic emergency obstetric and newborn care. The medical equipment, with a total value of over $83,000 US dollars, includes: fetal heart monitors, oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, and tables specifically designed for operations, and labour and delivery.
As part of the Denmark-funded sexual and reproductive health project, training for over 600 health care workers has been provided over the past few years in the project areas regions of Dodoma, Simiyu and Zanzibar, covering topics in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health. Participants included nurse-midwives, clinical officers, and medical officers. And, to further disseminate essential knowledge, multiple groups were prepared as mentors and trainers of trainers on Sexual and Reproductive Health standards.
The guest of honour, the Honourable Angellah Kairuki, Minister of President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) said that the project has enhanced availability of sexual and reproductive health services. It was noted that in project regions, over recent years, there has been increased percentages of deliveries assisted by skilled health attendants and increased percentages of women delivering in health facilities.
Handover ceremony attendees included: the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E., Ms. Mette Norgaard Balozi Dissing-Spandet; the Regional Commissioner of Dodoma, Honourable Rosemary Staki Senyamule; the Chamwino District Commissioner, Honourable Gift Isaya Msuya.
“Through provision of reproductive health services and information, the Denmark-funded project has made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of women, men and adolescents,” said UNFPA Country Representative, United Republic of Tanzania, Mark Bryan Schreiner. “We recognize our joint commitment together with the Government of Tanzania to provide rights and choices for all, and we honor the dedication of health workers in delivering sexual and reproductive health services.”
The Denmark-funded project also established a youth friendly facility for sexual and reproductive health services at Nhinhi dispensary in Chamwino district. To compliment the effort, 50 young people in Dodoma were trained on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Gender Based Violence prevention and response. These young people are now working as peer educators, and have contributed to the project reaching some 50,000 adolescent and young people with Sexual and Reproductive Health information and services.
For further information, please contact:
Warren Bright, UNFPA Tanzania Communications Analyst, Mobile: +255 764 43 44 45, Email: bwarren@unfpa.org
