Z’bar First Lady: Prioritising population health key to prosperity

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’s First Lady, Maryam Mwinyi has highlighted Zanzibar’s significant investment in the health sector, stressing that a healthy population is crucial for sustainable economic growth.

“We firmly believe that good health and nutrition are the foundations of a thriving society. Every woman and child in Zanzibar deserve access to nutritious food and the opportunity to reach their full potential,” she stated.

She spoke at the opening of the three-day “Third Knowledge Management and Learning Event on Quality Improvement of Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services in Antenatal and Postnatal Care” held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Arusha.

Participants included representatives from Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, where the project is being implemented.
While acknowledging some progress, Ms Mwinyi noted there is still much room for improvement.

“In Zanzibar, 17.6 per cent of children under five are stunted and while 67 per cent of households consume at least three meals daily, poor nutritional habits remain a concern,” she said.

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She cited the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey, which found bottle feeding is more common in Zanzibar (13 per cent than mainland Tanzania (5 per cent), affecting nutrition for infants and young children.

Additionally, the survey showed anaemia is more prevalent among pregnant women and the high consumption of sugary beverages and unhealthy foods poses dietary risks, especially for pregnant women.

“These figures should concern us all,” she remarked, emphasising the importance of collective efforts to improve healthcare access for women and children.

Ms Mwinyi praised the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and its local partner, the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), for working with the Ministry of Health to improve maternal and newborn care.

She highlighted successes such as expanded antenatal care coverage and enhanced healthcare provider training, which enables more women to receive services like nutrition counselling and anaemia management during pregnancy.

While thanking partners, she stressed that more must be done to ensure universal coverage of quality maternal, newborn and child health services.

She expressed optimism about future collaboration with organisations like the Global Fund and Takeda to scale up and sustain these efforts.

Ms Mwinyi also advocated for continued promotion and support of breastfeeding, which provides vital nutrients and antibodies for early childhood development.

She called for ensuring mothers have access to accurate information and support for breastfeeding practices.

Beyond healthcare, she emphasised the importance of addressing food security and promoting healthier diets, including increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and nutrient-rich foods.

“My vision for Zanzibar is that every child grows up healthily and strongly, with mothers being empowered to nourish their families and malnutrition made a distant memory. Let’s work together to make this vision a reality,” she urged.

The First Lady explained that the project aligns with the Zanzibar government’s priorities to improve women’s and children’s health , a mission being carried out with the support of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), which she established in 2021 to improve the lives of women, youth and children.

ZMBF’s 2022–2025 strategic plan aligns with Zanzibar’s Development Vision 2020–2050, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

At the same event, Zanzibar’s Health Minister, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, noted that while it is possible for a mother to give birth to a child free of HIV, TB and malaria, there is still work to be done, particularly in education.

He highlighted Zanzibar’s success in reducing maternal and infant mortality over the past five years, attributing some of this progress to the Knowledge Management and Learning Event for the Quality Improvement of Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services in ANC and PNC programmes.

Dr Salma Abdi Mahmoud, Project Team Leader for Zanzibar, said the project was a collaboration between institutions from Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and England, with financial backing from the Global Fund and Takeda Pharmaceutical.

In Tanzania, the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) and the University of Dodoma played a key role in the project’s academic work.