This was said recently by the National Coordinator for Safe Motherhood, Dr KohelethWinani, at the launch of the Media Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (Tamenet-SRHR).  

 

He emphasized: “The war against infant and maternal death must involve many stakeholders; so the media must use their profession and convey to communities correct information about safe sex and reproductive health.” 

 

He said Tanzania can contain most maternal related deaths if the right information on best ways to handle the problem is disseminated.

Dr Winani was representing the permanent secretary in Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Donald Mmbando, at the occasion.

 

For his part, the network’s acting chairperson, Hussein Siyovelwa, said media coverage of sexual and reproductive health rights was crucial in achieving national development goals. Yet journalists covering them often face significant challenges, he lamented.

 

He said 25 journalists made the decision to form the network in 2013. This was after undergoing intensive training provided by an organization known as Tanzania Men as Equal Partners (TMEP) that works under a Swedish organization called RFSU. 

 

He said: “After the launch of the network we hoped to reduce challenges in reporting on the subject. We also hoped that we would be able to speak and educate the public on issues concerning sexual reproductive health rights.”

 

Tanzania has achieved the WHO target of reducing the child mortality rate to 54 in every 1,000 live births. But, despite the number of deaths plummeting from 520 to 432 in every 100,000 live births, the target is to reach 193 deaths in every 100,000 live births