Recently, I was privileged to participate in the 2013 White Ribbon Day celebrations in Kilimanjaro Region, and I congratulate the Kilimanjaro Region White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania (WRATZ) members as well as the Moshi Municipal which supported the event to a great extent. We had a walking rally from Kiboriloni Secondary School to Msaranga Health Center wearing white T-shirts with a clear message “Uzazi Salama Sote tuwajibike” meaning Safe Motherhood requires accountability from all of us, which is in line with greater WRATZ campaign of “Wajibika Mama Aishi” meaning ‘Be Accountable so Mama can Survive Childbirth’.Hundreds of people, mainly health workers and school youths, whom I believe is an important group of tomorrow’s mothers, fathers politicians and decision makers, participated. The guest of honor was the Regional Commissioner who could not attend, but his speech was read by the Regional Administrative Secretary on his behalf. From his speech we got the good news and the highlight of the event that Mawenzi Hospital Theatre was going to open soon!I almost could not contain my delight at the news, since the thought of the suffering and death caused to women who needed emergency cesarean section in this regional hospital, but could not get it in the last 3 years was very saddening. But the theatre is still not open yet and the reason for the delay was said to be related to lack of budget for this crucial undertaking.This is what WRATZ is campaigning for. There should be a special budget which is clearly identified and protected from re allocations, so that theatres are built and those built are maintained. Below is the theater which was closed by the Ministry of Health. In such circumstances, I wonder if our government does consider funding for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmONC) to save lives. The wording in the photo translate to “This theatre has been closed by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on December 27, 2010”. To date this regional hospital does not have a theatre. A new one is under construction but I was told that the progress is really slow.In my speech as the National I had to emphasize the need for CEmONC at health centers because these arelife-saving facilities nearer to poor pregnant women. Many pregnant-related deaths have been reported to occur due to long distances, when women with fatal complications are referred from health centers to hospitals.I was grateful the media was present and sections of my speech were aired on a national Television (ITV) that week. Driving home some key points helped because Hon. Regional Commissioner called me to verify if what I was saying was true and now that are thinking about what to do to save the lives mothers and babies. WRATZ calls for the government to starting having a budget line dedicated to CEmONC at Health Centers within the 2014/2015 National Budget. It should be a gradual process followed by intitiatives to protect/block this line from reallocation to other activities and eventually increase it until all women access CEmONC services. Please read this related blog: Budget analysis training breathing new energy to campaign to save mothers and babies Rose Mlay
Recently, I was privileged to participate in the 2013 White Ribbon Day celebrations in Kilimanjaro Region, and I congratulate the Kilimanjaro Region White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania (WRATZ) members as well as the Moshi Municipal which supported the event to a great extent. We had a walking rally from Kiboriloni Secondary School to Msaranga Health Center wearing white T-shirts with a clear message “Uzazi Salama Sote tuwajibike” meaning Safe Motherhood requires accountability from all of us, which is in line with greater WRATZ campaign of “Wajibika Mama Aishi” meaning ‘Be Accountable so Mama can Survive Childbirth’.Hundreds of people, mainly health workers and school youths, whom I believe is an important group of tomorrow’s mothers, fathers politicians and decision makers, participated. The guest of honor was the Regional Commissioner who could not attend, but his speech was read by the Regional Administrative Secretary on his behalf. From his speech we got the good news and the highlight of the event that Mawenzi Hospital Theatre was going to open soon!I almost could not contain my delight at the news, since the thought of the suffering and death caused to women who needed emergency cesarean section in this regional hospital, but could not get it in the last 3 years was very saddening. But the theatre is still not open yet and the reason for the delay was said to be related to lack of budget for this crucial undertaking.This is what WRATZ is campaigning for. There should be a special budget which is clearly identified and protected from re allocations, so that theatres are built and those built are maintained. Below is the theater which was closed by the Ministry of Health. In such circumstances, I wonder if our government does consider funding for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmONC) to save lives. The wording in the photo translate to “This theatre has been closed by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on December 27, 2010”. To date this regional hospital does not have a theatre. A new one is under construction but I was told that the progress is really slow.In my speech as the National I had to emphasize the need for CEmONC at health centers because these arelife-saving facilities nearer to poor pregnant women. Many pregnant-related deaths have been reported to occur due to long distances, when women with fatal complications are referred from health centers to hospitals.I was grateful the media was present and sections of my speech were aired on a national Television (ITV) that week. Driving home some key points helped because Hon. Regional Commissioner called me to verify if what I was saying was true and now that are thinking about what to do to save the lives mothers and babies. WRATZ calls for the government to starting having a budget line dedicated to CEmONC at Health Centers within the 2014/2015 National Budget. It should be a gradual process followed by intitiatives to protect/block this line from reallocation to other activities and eventually increase it until all women access CEmONC services. Please read this related blog: Budget analysis training breathing new energy to campaign to save mothers and babies Rose Mlay