I was unsure whether the Prime Minister realised the tragic scale of the loss of our mothers and babies in Tanzania. So, I took it beyond the comfort zone of aggregate statistics.
There is always a sense of awe when you have the opportunity to meet with a national leader. This was not lost on me recently when I was privileged enough to meet Tanzania’s Prime Minister,
Hon. Mizengo Pinda.I was part of a
White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) delegation made up of a small group of civil society leaders advocating for our mothers and babies survival in Tanzania.Mama Ye! Director Craig Ferla (top left) with the Hon. Pinda (bottom centre) and the White Ribbon Alliance Board and membersHon. Pinda struck me as sincere, courteous, and receptive – I quickly warmed to his leadership presence. He welcomed us and duly listened to our cause. The very brilliant
Rose Mlay pitched the WRA
national campaign ask straight at the Prime Minister. They are calling for Tanzanian Government to honour its commitment to saving thousands of lives of mothers and babies by ensuring that emergency care in pregnancy and childbirth is available to all. Including surgery and blood transfusion. Including the majority of women who live in rural communities. All Tanzanian women should have emergency care when they need it.At the meeting, two things struck me:
- How Rose, a much seasoned and loved campaigner for mothers’ survival, is so good at being able to get the time and ear of top leadership and decision-makers
- I was unsure whether the Prime Minister really realised the tragic scale of the loss of our mothers and babies in Tanzania
Airplane?Statistics, even when in their thousands, can be lifeless and faceless, cold, development speak, and just too big to really understand in everyday ways: less than half or more than 50,000 or 454 deaths out of one hundred thousand live births, etc. etc.For a moment imagine the depth of grief in just one household, and by her nearest and dearest, at the death of
one mother whilst in the act of giving life.Remember the words you said to your miracle, your new baby, when cradled in your arms for the first
time, or the words you imagine that you would say if you haven’t yet been blessed this peerless moment in life...These are the cherished people we are talking about, our mothers and babies.I seized a moment to try and bring this home beyond the comfort zone of aggregate statistics.I had noticed how during the meeting so far every now and again an assistant to the Prime Minister would hand over to him a little note which he would either take a moment of contemplation over, or on one occasion excused himself for a few minutes. My mind imagined what could be on these pieces of paper and maybe making tomorrow’s headlines – scores killed in a community clash over land - a huge horde of ivory intercepted at the port - disastrous flooding in Morogoro region.
I would have no choice but to resignI asked the Prime Minister what would happen if one of those notes was informing him of a plane crash that had just happened in Tanzania, maybe one of the private airlines that typically carry between 30 – 100 passengers a flight?It would be considered a disaster.And then before he had really had a moment to gather his thoughts and act on the unfolding disaster, another note of another plane crash only a few hours later.What on earth would be his response and the whole nation’s response - if this happened yet again the day after, and again the day after that - let alone for every waking day for the whole year ahead of us.Yes, that is the scale of loss of our beloved mothers and babies every day it dawns. That’s what it means to lose around 8,500 mothers and nearly 50,000 babies every year in Tanzania.He responded that he would have no choice but to resign as Prime Minister.And yet the majority of these precious lives could be saved. We have the answers. We now need action.I am excited that in a couple of weeks’ time I will have the privilege of the Prime Minister’s company once again, this time as he graces this year’s White Ribbon Day on 15-March that will be held in Mtowisa ward of Sumbawanga Rural district.We all have our part to play to be a champion of our mothers and babies, especially our top leadership. I eagerly look forward to Hon. Pinda’s participation, leadership and action on this most precious of causes in Tanzania. More of that
in this blog… 
