Problem

In Tanzania, only 51% of women complete the recommended 4+ ANC visits, and fewer than 30% start ANC in the first trimester. Missed ANC means conditions such as high blood pressure, anemia, infections, and malnutrition often go undetected, putting both mother and baby at risk.

McF Approach

Promote early registration of pregnancies and link women to timely ANC.

• Train health workers to provide respectful, quality ANC including blood pressure checks, urine and blood tests, ultrasound, and malaria prevention.
• Provide supplements (iron–folate), deworming, and tetanus immunization during pregnancy.
• Use mobile reminders and community health workers (CHWs) to encourage mothers to attend all visits.

Problem

Around 11,000 mothers die every year in Tanzania due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, including hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labor, and eclampsia. Rural health facilities often lack staff, supplies, or the capacity for emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC).

McF Approach

Problem

Nearly 40,000 newborns die annually in Tanzania, mostly within the first week of life. Causes include birth asphyxia, prematurity, and infections—conditions that are preventable with timely and skilled care.

McF Approach

• Promote clean delivery practices and skilled attendance at every birth.
• Train staff in neonatal resuscitation and essential newborn care.
• Expand kangaroo mother care for premature and low-birthweight babies.
• Provide newborn supplies (warmth devices, antibiotics, clean cord care kits) in all maternity wards.
• Support immediate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.

Problem

Many mothers experience postpartum depression, anxiety, or trauma, yet few are screened or treated. Stigma and a lack of trained mental health providers mean women often suffer in silence.

McF Approach

• Train health workers to screen mothers for mental health conditions during ANC and postnatal visits.
• Provide basic counseling and referral services at health facilities.
• Establish community-based peer support groups for mothers.
• Integrate psychosocial support into maternal and child health programs to improve overall well-being.

Problem

Pneumonia and diarrhea are leading killers of children under five, responsible for nearly 40% of child deaths in Tanzania. In 2021, 21% of under-five deaths were caused by pneumonia and 17% by diarrhea. Repeated infections also cause stunting and long-term vulnerability to disease.

McF Approach

• Ensure consistent supplies of ORS, zinc, amoxicillin, and oxygen in health facilities.
• Train CHWs to diagnose danger signs early and provide basic treatment at the community level.
• Equip facilities with pulse oximeters and protocols for correct diagnosis and triage.
• Run community campaigns on handwashing, breastfeeding, safe water use, and ORS treatment.

Problem

30% of children under five in Tanzania are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. Only 64% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, and just 19% of young children receive a diverse diet. Malnutrition contributes to nearly half of child deaths worldwide.

McF Approach

• Promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and safe complementary feeding afterward.
• Provide fortified foods and supplements for young children, pregnant women, and adolescent girls.
• Train CHWs to screen children with MUAC tapes and provide early treatment for malnutrition.
• Promote WASH practices (clean water, sanitation, and handwashing) to reduce infections linked to malnutrition.

Problem

Around 1 in 5 children worldwide (20 million) miss basic vaccines each year, and 1.5 million die from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Tanzania, vaccine coverage remains uneven, particularly in rural and hard-to reach areas.

McF Approach

• Support vaccination outreach clinics and door-to-door campaigns in underserved areas.
• Strengthen cold-chain systems with solar-powered fridges and digital monitoring.
• Mobilize community leaders, teachers, and religious leaders to build vaccine trust and fight misinformation.
• Assist facilities in microplanning to ensure all eligible children are reached on time.