Tanzania's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Bruno Sunguya, has called on African countries to strengthen strategies for preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) to reduce preventable maternal deaths. He made the call while officially opening a regional workshop on the prevention and management of postpartum haemorrhage in Dar es Salaam. The workshop brings together participants from more than 23 African countries.
According to Prof. Sunguya, postpartum haemorrhage continues to pose a significant threat to maternal and newborn health due to several factors. These factors include delays in recognising symptoms, shortages of safe blood for transfusions, and failure to adhere to established treatment guidelines. Addressing the challenge is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Target 3.1.
Prof. Sunguya highlighted Tanzania's efforts in maternal and newborn health, which remains a national priority under the leadership of President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. She also serves as the African Union Champion for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Tanzania continues to invest in strengthening emergency obstetric care, improving the capacity of midwives, and expanding access to essential healthcare technologies.
However, Prof. Sunguya stressed that these efforts require stronger regional and international cooperation to achieve better outcomes in saving the lives of women and children. He described the workshop as an important opportunity for participating countries to learn from one another, exchange experiences, and strengthen cooperation in addressing shared challenges.
The Chief Medical Officer emphasised the need to harmonise treatment guidelines, implement the E-MOTIVE treatment bundle for postpartum haemorrhage, and learn from the experiences of various projects and initiatives aimed at improving the prevention and management of the condition. Key priorities include improving medical supply chains and expanding access to quality maternal healthcare services.
The workshop is expected to strengthen collaboration among African countries and support the adoption of effective interventions to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth. The goal is to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce avoidable deaths across the continent. Tanzania has set a new target to reduce maternal deaths to below 70 per 100,000 live births.
Prof. Sunguya's call to action underscores the importance of collective efforts to address the significant challenge of postpartum haemorrhage in Africa. The regional workshop provides a platform for countries to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in preventing and managing PPH, ultimately contributing to the reduction of maternal mortality rates in the region.
Key points
- Tanzania's Chief Medical Officer calls for stronger regional and international cooperation to address postpartum haemorrhage.
- The regional workshop aims to strengthen collaboration among African countries to improve maternal health outcomes.
- Tanzania has set a target to reduce maternal deaths to below 70 per 100,000 live births.
