Tanzania and Japan have signed an agreement worth TZS 27.3 billion to support the improvement of maternal and child healthcare services in Tanzania.
The agreement, facilitated through Japan’s development agency JICA, will fund the procurement of modern medical equipment for seven referral hospitals across the country.
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Finance offices in Dar es Salaam, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Natu El-maamry Mwamba, representing the Government of Tanzania, and Japan’s Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Yoichi Mikami, representing the Government of Japan. JICA’s Resident Representative, Mr. Hitoshi Ara, also participated in the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mwamba noted that the initiative aligns with Tanzania’s current Five-Year Development Plan, which prioritizes improving the quality of healthcare services nationwide.
“This funding supports the government’s efforts to ensure timely access to quality healthcare services in communities,” Dr. Mwamba stated. She added that the project will significantly improve healthcare delivery in seven referral hospitals: Dodoma, Tumbi (Pwani), Mount Meru (Arusha), Sekou-Toure (Mwanza), Songea (Ruvuma), Maweni (Kigoma), and Lumumba (Zanzibar).
Dr. Mwamba also highlighted the growing partnership between Tanzania and Japan, as evidenced by the increasing number of development projects funded through Japanese grants and concessional loans. She expressed gratitude to Japan for its continued support, which has contributed to Tanzania’s sustainable social and economic development.
“Tanzania will continue to strengthen its development cooperation with Japan for the benefit of our people, and the government will take all necessary steps to ensure the successful implementation of this project,” Dr. Mwamba added.
For his part, Japan’s Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Yoichi Mikami, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Tanzania’s development, particularly in the health sector. “The Government of Japan will continue to collaborate with Tanzania to promote sustainable social and economic development and improve the lives of Tanzanians,” he said.
JICA’s Resident Representative, Mr. Hitoshi Ara, highlighted JICA’s long-standing support for Tanzania’s health sector, including hospital management and quality improvement initiatives. He noted that these efforts have contributed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Tanzania.
Mr. Ara also pointed out the significant progress Tanzania has made in reducing maternal and child mortality rates. Maternal mortality has decreased from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 238 in 2020, while neonatal and under-five mortality rates have also declined.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Ismail Rumatila, expressed his appreciation for the support, stating that the new equipment will enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities in the seven referral hospitals.
Over the years, Japan has supported the improvement of healthcare services in Tanzania through Grass-Roots Human Security Grant Assistance Projects and JICA technical cooperation projects.
The ongoing technical cooperation ‘Project for Strengthening Quality Maternal and New-born Care in Tanzania’ (FY2022-2027) aims to improve maternal and child health service delivery capacity by strengthening the maternal and child health service delivery system in Regional Referral Hospitals (RRHs) and improving the capacity of health staff.
