Efficient RCH services impress US-based philanthropist

Dar es Salaam: US-based actress and philanthropist, Ms Molly Sims, was on Thursday impressed by efficient Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services in public hospitals in Dar es Salaam.

Ms Sims expressed her feeling after visiting some health centres in the city, including Buguruni and Vingunguti health centres.

Her visit in Tanzania was organized by Jhpiego, a global health non-profit which has supported the government’s committed efforts to deliver quality health services for women, mothers, adolescents and children.

Some of the health facilities supported by Jhpiego-led projects include the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Afya Yangu-Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health project which aims to increase the use of quality and integrated health services, particularly for women and youth.

At the Buguruni Health Centre, Ms Sims, who is also an entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author, had a chance to witness a morning session for provision of reproductive health education to expectant women who attended the clinic.

She was pleased to see how reproductive health education was given to expectant mothers.

“What you have done despite little resources is incredible,” Ms Sims remarked while at the centre.

She also visited communities that prioritize youth friendly services and use innovative peer to peer counseling and outreach to empower and educate girls so they can understand and seek appropriate health services.

“As a mother, I understand the important role women play in the health of their children. Healthy mothers mean healthy families today and in the future. Health care workers are as critical to the quality of health care services families want and need to thrive,” she added.

Ms Alice Christensen, Jhpiego’s Tanzania Country Director said Ms Sims is interested in learning about Jhpiego’s work and is committed to supporting Jhpiego’s vision that all women and families, regardless of where they live, have equitable access to high quality, lifesaving health care delivered by competent and caring providers.

Ms Christensen noted that Jhpiego has been dedicated for over two decades to support Tanzania’s health sector and the government to achieve national priorities and global development goals.

“Hosting Ms Sims provides an excellent opportunity to showcase how Tanzania is making significant progress in improving health indicators,” she said.

Jhpiego hopes Ms. Sims’ visit will draw attention to the achievements made in maternal and newborn health in Tanzania and the government’s continued commitment to accelerate those gains with significant support from USAID and through the strong partnership of Jhpiego, the Ministry of Health and the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government).

The success thus far puts Tanzania on a strong path to achieve national goals and the 2030 sustainable development goals.

Acting Dar es Salaam Regional Medical Officer, Reginald Mlay thanked Jhpiego for their support.

But he noted that still more support is needed to further improve services at the facility because it serves a big number of patients.

Earlier, the facility’s doctor-in-charge, Fillo Hyera, said the centre receives between 400 and 500 outpatients a day.