Tanzania has a youthful age structure and a vibrant population enabled by advancements in health and education.  According to the 2022 census Tanzania’s population has grown to 61.7 million people; this includes an estimated 16 million women of reproductive age. The Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS 2022) indicates a fertility rate of 4.8.

The world population reached and celebrated the day of 8 Billion on 15 November 2022. According to the World Population Prospects 2022 report (UN DESA Population Division) up to 2050 more than half of the projected increase in global population will be concentrated in eight countries, five of which are in Africa, including the United Republic of Tanzania.

UNFPA features Tanzania in the campaign 8 Billion: A World of Infinite Possibilities, which recognizes that the number eight when turned on its side indicates infinite possibilities.

As the dynamic population of Tanzania expands, seizing the demographic opportunity through investment and development of human capital is essential. Policies and programmes must focus on means of empowerment, including through healthcare and education. Planning ahead enhances the capacity of institutions to meet population needs, including for sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning services, and quality maternal health care.

TDHS 2022 figures indicate an increase in births delivered by a skilled provider (85 per cent), and births delivered in a health facility (81 per cent). While these figures indicate significant increase since the previous survey (2015/16), health system capacity needs to further expand to ensure that no one is left behind.

Tanzania has recognized the importance of women’s reproductive health and rights as being central to development. UNFPA supports the Government of Tanzania to deliver on the Nairobi Summit commitments of 2019 to support access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born, and adolescent health.

Specialized midwife​, Rukia Suleiman Adam, visits a mother and her new baby at home. This newborn is one of 2.15 million babies born in the United Republic of Tanzania each year, many of them delivered by specialized midwives. All photos: © Sabiha Çimen/Magnum Photos for UNFPA

Midwives play a vital role in providing a range of essential sexual and reproductive health services and information. As Tanzania’s population grows, more specialized midwives are needed to support reproductive health and help ensure rights and choices for all.

Together with the Government of Tanzania and partners including the Tanzania Midwives Association, UNFPA is investing to increase the number of qualified midwives and their life-saving interventions:

• Renovation of health facilities including maternity wards and operating theatres;
• Provision of medical equipment and skills training equipment to enable safe delivery care and provision of maternal and childcare;
• Capacity building of midwives to provide emergency obstetric and newborn care;
• Development and review of guidelines, policy documents and higher diploma curriculum to expand the skills and capacity of midwives.

With further investment, the capacity of midwives to provide life-saving services expands and is accompanied by further reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality. These efforts support the creation of a workforce that can provide a full continuum of quality care: healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, postpartum care, and increasing family planning options.

Midwives enable a world of infinite possibilities, by supporting reproductive and maternal health, and bringing healthy infants into the world. “I am so proud when I see a mother deliver in comfort, feel healthy, and feed her baby well,” says Rukia, a specialized midwife in Zanzibar. “I love my job.”

Read more about the life-saving work of Rukia, Sanura and their fellow midwives to support safe births for mothers and babies in the United Republic of Tanzania, and a world of infinite possibilities: Tanzania; Providing women with care and choices

(https://www.unfpa.org/8billion/8stories/tanzania)

Invest in midwives – Midwives save lives.