REINFORCEMENT OF MATERNAL & NEWBORN SURVIVAL IN SHINYANGA

As the nation was commemorating the 17^th anniversary since the passing away of the Father of Nation and First President of the United Republic of Tanzania, The Late Mwalimu Julius KambarageNyerere on 14^th October, another history was marked in health sector when the Obstretric Theater in Binambiyu health center became functional it registered savingthe lives of  two pregnant mothers during the first few days of its operations.

Dr. Josephat Shani, Facility incharge of Binambiyu Health Center together with a team of medical practitioners performing the first emergency surgery service to a pregnant mother on 14^th October 2016 in Binambiyu Health Center.

Binambiyu health center is located in Kishapu district, Shinyangaregion. Earlier the health center hadf been providing services to pregnant mothers without the presence of a theater. The center did not have the capacity to provide emergency surgery services known as comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) to pregnant mothers, due to the unavailability of an operating obstetric theatre.The Benjamin W. Mkapa Foundation (BMF) through its signature program of the Mkapa Fellows Phase II (MFP II) which focuses on tackling HIV and AIDS and maternal health challenges in underserved Tanzanian communities, handed over this obstetric theater along with medical equipment in December 2015. The theater was constructed through the program financially supported  by Irish AID and many corporates to mention a few Bank M, Anglo Gold Ashanti, NSSF, PPF, Quality Group Limited, NBC, CRDB and Bank of Tanzania.

The Foundation is grateful by the effort of the Kishapu team, Shinyanga regional office and the Ministry of Health, for successfully making the theater functional, hence saving lives of pregnant women in the region.