Mwanza. A new initiative allowing pregnant women to have trusted companions during labour and childbirth is expected to help reduce maternal and newborn deaths in Mwanza Region by encouraging facility deliveries and improving the quality of maternity care.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of persistent maternal deaths, with the region recording 129 between January and September 2026, according to Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary Dr Fatuma Mganga.
Speaking with The Citizen on Friday, November 13, 2026, during the launch of the Scaling Up Birth Companionship to Advance Quality and Respectful Maternity Care in Mwanza Region project, Dr Mganga said maternal deaths had remained high over the past five years.
The region recorded 165 maternal deaths in 2022, 144 in 2023, 165 in 2024 and 144 in 2025, before registering 129 in the first nine months of this year.
She identified severe bleeding during or after childbirth, known medically as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), eclampsia and sepsis as some of the leading causes of maternal deaths.
Dr Mganga urged health facilities to strengthen emergency response systems, particularly by ensuring that women arriving in critical condition receive immediate attention.
She also called for adequate medical equipment and skilled personnel to be available at all times, stressing that investments in health infrastructure and staff training must translate into timely, quality services.
On newborn deaths, she said Mwanza recorded 793 in 2022, 779 in 2023, 700 in 2024 and 722 in 2025. A further 492 deaths involving babies aged between zero and 28 days were reported between January and September 2026.
Mwanza Regional Medical Officer Dr Kheri Kagya said the birth companionship initiative would encourage more women to give birth in health facilities by allowing them to have someone they trust alongside them during labour and delivery.
Initially piloted in two health facilities, the programme will be extended to 12 additional facilities to reach more expectant mothers.
Under the arrangement, women will be allowed to choose a companion, such as their husbands or relatives, to provide emotional support throughout childbirth.
The companions will be permitted in delivery areas, subject to health facility procedures and requirements.
Dr Kagya said the initiative would complement government efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths while strengthening accountability in the provision of maternity services.
He added that companions could help women understand the care they receive and provide reassurance during childbirth.
Ministry of Health representative Fidea Obimbo said respectful maternity care, founded on dignity and respect, was essential to improving maternal and child health.
She said the approach should extend across the entire reproductive health journey, from pre-pregnancy and antenatal care to childbirth and the postnatal period.
Ms Obimbo commended Thamini Uhai for introducing the initiative in Mwanza and urged regional and local government authorities to support its expansion to more health facilities.
Earlier, Thamini Uhai Executive Director Banzi Msumi said the organisation had worked with the government since 2008 to improve maternal and child health and reduce preventable deaths.
He said the organisation began piloting birth companionship in nine health facilities in Kigoma Region in 2017. Following encouraging results, the programme was expanded in collaboration with the government, reaching 28 groups.
Mr Msumi said the experience had helped strengthen healthcare providers’ capacity, improve the maternity care environment and increase community participation in promoting respectful care.
He said extending the initiative to Mwanza was part of efforts to build on the Kigoma experience and improve the quality of services available to mothers and newborns.
The project is being implemented by Thamini Uhai in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Mwanza regional authorities.