In Tanzania, the life of a mother and her newborn on the very first day of life can be the most dangerous moment they face. Despite political commitment and progress over recent years, maternal and newborn health has often been overshadowed by competing priorities in national development planning such as infrastructure, education, and diseases. Partially this is because the causes of maternal mortality are complex and require sustained, cross-sectoral investments: skilled health workers, functioning referral systems, emergency obstetric services, family planning, good nutrition and clean water. These solutions go beyond simply building clinics. They demand a good health system and reliable funding systems, tools not always firmly in place in low-income settings. Structural barriers like rural poverty, long distances to facilities, and understaffed health posts further divert health personnel and budget away from the most vulnerable communities.

Around the first 24 hours of life, both maternal and newborn risks peak. Globally, about 830 women still die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth that roughly one every two minutes.[1] The key challenges in maternal health, specifically in Tanzania are many. For one the maternal mortality remains critically high: although recent progress has reduced the ratio dramatically from about 556 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015/16 to around 104 per 100,000 by 2022 even this drop highlights how far the country has come but also how far it must go to reach the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) target of less than 70 per 100,000 by 2030.[2] Additionally, newborn mortality are around 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, and newborns make up a large share of under-five mortality.[3] Many deaths on “day one” stem from post-partum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, infections, prematurity and asphyxia all of which can be prevented or managed with timely, quality care.[4]

These challenges happen due to several factors. For one the health workforce shortages. There aren’t enough doctors, midwives, and nurses, especially in rural areas and many facilities lack the capacity to deliver emergency obstetric and newborn care. Then there are weak facility infrastructure and supplies. Even when women reach a clinic, facilities may lack electricity, clean water, blood supplies or essential medicines. The accessibility and cultural barriers are problematic, too. Long distances, transport costs, and cultural mistrust of formal care push many women to deliver at home without skilled professionals. Additionally, the gaps in postnatal care are severe. Postnatal check-ups critical in the first days after birth are still low, with many women not accessing follow-up care even if they delivered in a facility.[5]

And numbers tell a story that’s why it’s important to pay attention to them. These striking statistics reveal both the progress and the risk. Around 11,000 Tanzanian women die annually from pregnancy or childbirth complications that are mostly preventable.[6] The Maternal mortality ratio dropped ~80% from 556 to 104 per 100,000 live births over seven years.[7] The neonatal mortality stands at ~24 per 1,000 live births, focusing the danger around birth and the need for quality day-one care.[8] These numbers reflect lives mothers who can’t hold their newborn, children lost before their first breath and remind us that data are more than statistics. They are urgent calls to action.

So, what can Europe and European Partners contribute?

Europe has a role that goes beyond funding. These practical areas are where European institutions, NGOs and professionals can make a tangible difference. For instance, in the technical support and training. European academic, professional and medical organizations can partner with Tanzanian institutions to provide midwifery and obstetric training, including for emergency procedures. Or digital & telehealth solutions. European expertise in digital health (mHealth, telemedicine) can help bridge distance gaps, bring guidelines to remote health workers, and improve real-time monitoring of maternal and newborn health. Sustainable financing and policy dialogue are also a solution. European donors and policymakers can offer long-term financing models focused on health system strengthening, not only project-by-project funding. Research Partnerships can help tremendously. Europe’s research infrastructure can power evidence driven interventions that refine what works from machine learning monitoring tools to low-cost care models. All these ideas, the message is clear: Europeans must support Tanzanian leadership, not replace it.

Therefore, what can TAIRIS Medical B.V. & the Maternal Health Summit of 2026 bring as efforts?

It’s clear that the Maternal Health Summits and TAIRIS both international and national are powerful platforms to increase progress. Events like the Tanzania Health Summit gather stakeholders, leverage data and innovation, and transform dialog into policy and practice.

These summits are often attended by government leaders, NGOs, health experts, and international partners. The focus isn’t just on the problem, but on sharing solutions such as, data-driven strategies to monitor maternal outcomes, investments in emergency obstetric and newborn care, partnerships to scale innovations that save lives, and bridging public and private sector strengths. These forums can embody a hopeful truth, of helping mothers and children in need, specifically in Tanzania.

Tanzania’s numbers shows that dramatic improvements are possible. When maternal health becomes a central development priority backed by data, political will, and partnerships can transform from risk to celebration. European contributions rooted in equality, sustainability, and mutual learning can help sustain and scale these gains. Because every mother deserves lifetime care, and every newborn deserves a fair start that’s not just development thinking. That’s humanity in action.