A child being tested./Photo;courtesy
A Tanzanian non-profit organisation is leading efforts to expand specialised newborn care across Africa with the launch of a new neonatal intensive care facility designed to improve survival among premature and critically ill infants.
The neonatal centre, opened on March 8th,2026, was established by the Doris Mollel Foundation in partnership with the global charity Keep a Child Alive, which was co-founded by singer Alicia Keys.
The facility marks the first in a planned network of 100 high-quality, parent-centred Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) expected to be developed across Africa.
The initiative aims to address persistent gaps in specialised newborn care by strengthening services for premature babies and those born with serious health complications.
The purpose-built centre is equipped with solar-powered medical technology and 15 specialised neonatal beds, with the capacity to save an estimated 1,300 newborn lives every year, according to project partners.
Health officials say the facility will play a critical role in treating neonatal infections and managing complications linked to premature births.
Unlike many conventional neonatal units, the centre has been designed around a parent-centred care model that allows mothers and babies to remain together throughout treatment.
This approach enables premature infants who require kangaroo mother care, a practice involving continuous skin-to-skin contact, to receive it without separation from their parents.
Health experts say kangaroo mother care is particularly effective for stabilising premature infants, improving body temperature regulation, breastfeeding, and overall survival outcomes.
For families in the surrounding region, access to such care has often been limited. Before the facility opened, many parents were forced to travel more than 100 kilometres to reach hospitals offering specialised neonatal services.
The new centre is expected to significantly reduce delays in treatment for newborns in rural communities, where access to advanced care has historically been scarce.
The project forms part of an approximately $830,000 initiative aimed at reducing newborn deaths by improving access to neonatal services and strengthening local health systems.
Tanzania has made steady progress in improving child survival rates over the past decade.
National data show that under-five mortality declined from 67 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016 to 43 per 1,000 in 2022, representing a reduction of more than 35 percent.
However, health experts note that deaths occurring during the first 28 days of life, the neonatal period, now account for nearly 40 percent of all under-five fatalities, highlighting the need for stronger neonatal care infrastructure.
Globally, newborn mortality remains a major public health concern.
According to international health estimates, about 2.3 million newborns die every year, with nearly half of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Mohamed Janabi, Regional Director for the World Health Organization African Region, emphasised the importance of expanding access to life-saving newborn care.
“Every child, whether born in Quimba, New York, or London, deserves the same chance to survive,” he said.
Supporters of the initiative say the new neonatal centre demonstrates how non-profit organisations can play a critical role in strengthening health systems, particularly in underserved communities.
The medical equipment, renewable energy systems, and a family-centred care approach will serve as a model for expanding neonatal care across Africa as part of the broader network of planned units.
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