NEW FUNDING WILL SAVE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN’S LIVES IN TANZANIA

Dr Jonas Chagi - Assistant Medical Officer Kibiti Health Center and Deputy Regional Project manager of Pwani region makes a point while Dr. Staffan Bergstrom – Director of Maternal Health, World Lung Foundation looks on.

Dr. Staffan Bergstrom - Director of Maternal Health, World Lung Foundation makes a point. On the right is Dr Hamid Mohamed, Deputy Director of WLF.

-->

World Lung Foundation (WLF) today welcomed an extension of funding for its Maternal Health Initiative in Tanzania. WLF has run the initiative with financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies since 2006, working closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and with Tanzanian partners like the Ifakara Health Institute, to

implement a state-of-the-art maternal health program in Tanzania. The aim of the initiative has been to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by improving women’s access to good-quality emergency obstetric care, particularly in rural and isolated areas.

News of the extended funding was announced yesterday, October 2nd, by Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York City, in the presence of President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Hon. Jakaya M. Kikwete and Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations. In addition, H&B Agerup Foundation joins as a new co-funder of the initiative, which will have received a total commitment of $15.5 million since late 2006. Conservative projections estimate that World Lung Foundation’s work in Tanzania will positively impact at least 50,000 mothers and their children over the next three years.

Peter Baldini, Chief Executive Officer, World Lung Foundation, commented: “Bloomberg Philanthropies enabled a proof-of-concept initiative to prove itself. By investing in a comprehensive model of medical personnel and infrastructure, they have shown that maternal deaths can be greatly reduced. We also commend the H&B Agerup Foundation for recognizing the value of a strong network of personnel and facilities, which enables us to expand it, and prevent more needless deaths.