Tanzania launches midwifery training center to reduce infant mortality

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) — Tanzania on Friday inaugurated the “Angel of Life” Midwifery Training Center, the first of its kind in the country, aimed at reducing infant mortality rates.
The inauguration ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s port city, was jointly organized by the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association and Wenzhou Medical University of China.
Yang Qingjiu, vice governor of China’s Zhejiang Province, along with a Chinese delegation, senior officials from the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, and board members of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association attended the event.
Joseph Kahama, secretary general of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association, expressed gratitude to China for establishing the midwifery training center, saying that it would contribute to lowering infant mortality rates.
“Midwives trained at the center will be able to assist pregnant women who cannot afford the funding and transport needed to reach health centers for delivery,” Kahama said, adding that pregnant women in remote rural areas often have to travel long distances to access healthcare services.
According to the Ministry of Health, Tanzania’s infant mortality rate in 2024 is projected to be 33.021 deaths per 1,000 live births, down 3.36 percent from 2023.
Dong Qixin, chief executive officer and general coordinator of the “Angel of Life” African Midwifery Training Program, said that Chinese doctors will provide training for midwives in Tanzania, with 20 to 30 midwives trained per session. ■