Background

The delivery of basic healthcare services on the Zanzibar archipelago, part of the United Republic of Tanzania, is insufficient to meet the needs of its population. In particular, there is a lack of basic maternal and neonatal services as well as emergency obstetric services, severely threatening the health and lives of newborn children and their mothers. The Government of Zanzibar requested SAB MedConsult and AMPC to analyse the current healthcare situation and to design a project aimed at improving the delivery of healthcare services on the archipelago, especially regarding maternal and newborn care, to prepare an ORIO grant application for the Dutch government, and if awarded, to fully develop the project.  

 

Goals

To secure financing and to develop a comprehensive project plan aimed at improving maternal and newborn care on Zanzibar by upgrading the health facilities and services of the main referral hospital in the capital Stone Town, Mnazi Mmoja, as well a number of rural health posts.  

 

AMPC, together with SABMedConsult, prepared the ORIO application which was selected as eligible for a grant at the beginning of 2010. Currently, a comprehensive project plan is being developed. Based on site visits and meetings with all stakeholders, the exact scope of the infrastructural works at Mnazi Mmoja has been decided upon and preliminary architectural plans are being drawn. Also, a selection of the 23 primary health care units to be equipped and renovated has been made based on site assessments, their role in the referral system and attendance rates. Over the coming months, equipment lists will be prepared, maintenance and capacity building programs will be designed, financial analyses will be calculated and procurement plans will made to ensure smooth and effective implementation of the project.  

 

Results

2009: ORIO application

2010: ORIO-grant awarded

2011: Project development is currently ongoing