Tanzania’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grace Magembe, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every mother and newborn receives quality, safe, and standard healthcare services through continued investment in the country’s health sector and efforts to meet global health targets.
Dr. Magembe made the remarks on May 28, 2026, during a brief handover ceremony at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam, where medical equipment and two vehicles intended to support maternal and child healthcare services were officially received and handed over.

“The government has continued improving working conditions for healthcare providers while also strengthening the capacity of midwives to ensure reproductive, maternal, and child health services reach citizens with the required quality,” Dr. Magembe said.
She added that cooperation between the government and development partners has continued to deliver positive results in the health sector, particularly in improving maternal and newborn healthcare services.
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Speaking at the event, Canadian Embassy representative Kevin Tokar praised the implementation of the project and pledged continued cooperation with the Tanzanian government to strengthen midwifery services, noting that such services play a critical role in saving the lives of mothers and newborns.

Meanwhile, United Nations Population Fund Tanzania representative Mark Bryan Schreiner said investment in midwives is a crucial step toward ensuring safe pregnancies and better lives for women and newborn children.
Elizabeth Kawogo, a midwife from one of the health centers benefiting from the project, said the “Learning Corner” equipment has significantly improved the way healthcare workers learn and deliver services to mothers and children.
The Safe Motherhood Initiative in Tanzania (SMIT) is a seven-year project being implemented by UNFPA in partnership with the Government of Tanzania and funded by Global Affairs Canada. The initiative aims to increase the number of skilled midwives and improve maternal and child healthcare services in the regions of Dar es Salaam and Shinyanga.
