Press Release - 06/03/09
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Maternity Hospital in Tanzania Draws Government Support: CCBRT Promises World-Class Care
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; June 3, 2009: On Tuesday 2nd June, the Five-Year Strategic Plan (2010-2014) for CCBRT’s new Baobab Maternity Hospital was launched by CCBRT’s Patron, Hon. Mr. Samuel Sitta, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania during a ceremony at CCBRT. The Government of Tanzania and CCBRT have joined forces in an unprecedented public-private partnership to establish the new hospital. In addition to providing the land for the hospital, the Government will make a major contribution to hospital staff salaries and provide additional funding for equipment and supplies. CCBRT, a Tanzanian non-governmental organization, is responsible for construction, management and service delivery of the new maternity hospital.
Mr. Sitta said: “I am delighted to launch this Strategy Plan for Dar es Salaam’s new maternity hospital. There is an urgent requirement for better health services for pregnant mothers and their infants in the region, and in the years ahead this hospital will save thousands of lives, prevent the spread of HIV and reduce the occurrence of disabilities for mothers and their children. CCBRT has extensive experience in providing high quality health services - both hospital and community based. This project is in safe hands.”
There is a strong need for improved maternal and newborn health care in Tanzania, where approximately 13,000 women die each year from pregnancy related causes; 250,000 women incur disabling conditions or impairments from pregnancy or childbirth; an estimated 157,000 children under the age of five die each year, 45,000 of which are newborns.
The 144 bed Baobab hospital will act as a referral hospital for the region, preventing maternal and infant deaths, disease and disabilities, and providing training especially in emergency obstetric care and essential newborn care to medical staff in other hospitals in Dar es Salaam. If funding requirements are met it is hoped that the maternity hospital will be up and running in 2011.
CCBRT:
Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) is the largest indigenous provider of disability and rehabilitation services in Tanzania. Each year approximately 120,000 people directly access its services, which include a disability hospital, community program, an education program and economic empowerment initiatives.
Contact: Katie Johnson, Executive Director, Kupona Foundation