World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed his support for the Doris Mollel Foundation, a Tanzania-based organization working to improve maternal and newborn health. During a visit to the foundation on October 5, 2026, Dr Tedros praised the organization's efforts and reaffirmed WHO's commitment to its partnership with the foundation. The partnership aims to improve newborn survival in Africa and globally.
The partnership between the Doris Mollel Foundation and WHO was developed through a series of engagements, including a January 2026 visit by WHO's Tanzania office to the foundation. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Geneva on June 29, 2026, which seeks to strengthen newborn health and survival across Africa and globally. The agreement was announced in August 2026.
Dr Tedros' visit to the foundation builds on a relationship that began in June 2024, when he met with Doris Mollel, the foundation's executive director, at WHO headquarters in Geneva. They discussed strategies for reducing infant mortality. In March 2026, Dr Tedros presented the foundation with a WHO Recognition Award for its leadership and contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns, particularly in Tanzania.
The Doris Mollel Foundation has made significant contributions to improving maternal and newborn health. At Kwimba District Hospital, the foundation's newborn care unit uses a "zero-separation" model, allowing mothers to remain with their babies throughout treatment. The unit, launched in March 2026, had admitted 492 newborns by September 2026 and can accommodate up to 42 babies at a time.
The foundation has also campaigned for global recognition of premature births, contributing to the inclusion of World Prematurity Day, observed on November 15, in WHO's official calendar of global health days in 2025. This recognition highlights the importance of addressing premature births, a major cause of infant mortality.
During his visit, Dr Tedros also met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who expressed her appreciation for the foundation's work and was pleased with its contribution to maternal and newborn health. The President's endorsement of the foundation's efforts underscores the importance of partnerships in improving healthcare outcomes.
The Doris Mollel Foundation's work has received praise from WHO and the Tanzanian government. Dr Tedros thanked the foundation for its commitment to maternal, child, and neonatal health, and expressed WHO's full support for its efforts. The foundation's executive director, Doris Mollel, thanked Dr Tedros and WHO for their continued support.
Key points
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has reaffirmed support for the Doris Mollel Foundation's work to improve maternal and newborn health in Tanzania and globally.
- The partnership between the Doris Mollel Foundation and WHO aims to strengthen newborn health and survival across Africa and globally.
- The Doris Mollel Foundation's newborn care unit at Kwimba District Hospital has admitted 492 newborns since its launch in March 2026.
