Global collaboration between Tanzania and Japan to advance midwifery profession: A case report of a partnership model

The global health agenda to reduce maternal mortality is delayed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The shortage of skilled birth attendants in Tanzania hinders the improvement of midwifery care to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity. It is urgently neccesary to develop midwifery leaders capable of working as educators, researchers, administrators, and advanced practitioners, contributing to the improvement of midwifery care and maternal child health in their own country. This report describes the process of establishing the first midwifery master’s program in Tanzania through the efforts of two academic institutions, one in Tanzania and one in Japan. The collaboration developed a sustainable partnership model for the advancement of midwifery education. This partnership model was based upon the professional relationships corresponding with our values of humanized childbirth and people-centered care. The key elements for the project success included: (1) spending adequate time for in-person communication with the collaborative partner; (2) sharing the same goals and concepts; (3) understanding different values and norms for working and living; (4) learning ways of communication and project implementation in the partner’s culture and (5) confirming the feasibility, which could increase team members’ motivation and commitment. Midwives from the two institutions both gained knowledge and research outcomes as well as the satisfaction of establishing the midwifery master’s program. To improve the remaining global maternal health issues, this win-win collaboration should be considered as the 21st century’s partnership model for the global health community

Dissemination of the safe motherhood advocacy package in Tanzania

The White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania, which is a coalition of 102 organizations and 800 individuals interested in making childbirth safe, has advocated for the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality ratios (MMR/MNR) since its inception in 2004. In August 2007 the alliance conducted a baseline assessment followed by advocacy with district authorities and community mobilization for skilled health workers in Sumbawanga and Monduli Districts. A follow-up assessment was carried out six months after the advocacy activity. Advocacy and mobilization resulted in an increase of three skilled workers and a 50% increase in facility deliveries at 17 dispensaries in Sumbawanga. Seven dispensaries in Monduli had an increase of five skilled workers and 18 deliveries compared to 0 deliveries before the advocacy. This assessment concludes that advocacy contributed to changes in employment/deployment policy, and that community mobilization changed behavior, for example, the villagers opted to give birth at dispensaries, something they did not do before the mobilization

Stronger together: midwifery twinning between Tanzania and Canada

Abstract This article describes a twinning relationship between the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and the Tanzania Midwives Association (TAMA). It argues that the twinning relationship strengthened both associations. The article briefly reviews the existing literature on professional associations and association strengthening to demonstrate that professional associations are a vital tool for improving the performance of healthcare workers and increasing their capacity to contribute to national and international policy-making. It then suggests that midwifery associations are particularly significant given the frequent professional marginalization of midwives. The article then describes in depth the relationship between CAM and TAMA, highlighting the accomplishments of the twinned partners, and analyzing the factors that contributed to the success of the relationship. The findings demonstrate that twinning can successfully strengthen associations, increasing their ability to support their membership, care for the public, and shape national policy-making. The article therefore proposes twinning as a successful and cost-effective model for encouraging the growth of the midwifery profession