Tanzania-led African Union maternal and child health efforts

Tanzania has initiated a push for increased cooperation with the African Union (AU) to address maternal and child mortality rates across Africa. Following the appointment of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health, the country sought AU support to mobilize continental leaders toward collective action.

This effort transitioned into the leadership of the AU’s “Three Zeros” agenda, which aims to eliminate preventable deaths by targeting zero home births without skilled assistance, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and zero unvaccinated children. During high-level discussions at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Tanzanian officials highlighted that Africa accounts for approximately 70 percent of global maternal deaths and nearly two-thirds of deaths in children under five.

To meet these objectives, the initiative focuses on strengthening primary healthcare, increasing domestic funding, and improving referral systems. Tanzania is proposing its own m-Mama digital referral system and mortality monitoring systems as models for improving emergency and primary care throughout the continent.