NBC Bank, Mkapa Foundationjoin forces to combat maternal deaths

06Jul 2023
The Guardian Reporter
DAR ES SALAAM
Business
The Guardian
NBC Bank, Mkapa Foundationjoin forces to combat maternal deaths

NBC Bank has forged a strategic partnership with the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation to provide scholarships to midwives to combat maternal mortality rate in Tanzania by ensuring sufficient presence of skilled health professionals.

NBC managing director Theobald Sabi(R )and BenjaminMkapa Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) DrHellenMkondya(L) display signed agreement for the fight against maternal deaths in Tanzania. Through the agreement, NBC will provide 200mn/- to finance the training of 100 midwives in the next two years. Photo by Guardian Correspondent

The bank said in a statement issued yesterday that part of the proceeds of planned NBC Dodoma Marathon to be held later this month, will be channeled to support the course.

The extraordinary event is dedicated to generating funds for enhanced maternal health through cervical cancer awareness initiatives and providing valuable scholarship opportunities to aspiring midwifery scholars in Tanzania.

Like many developing countries, Tanzania faces challenges in providing adequate healthcare services to pregnant women, resulting in many preventable maternal deaths.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, almost 95 percent of all maternal deaths occurred developing countries, with Tanzania's Maternal mortality rates (MMRs) remaining higher with regards to live births.

Besides improved medical facilities, care by skilled health professionals before, during, and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns.

The partnership between NBC Bank and the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation is a welcome call as it marks a significant step towards addressing this critical issue.

Through these scholarships, midwives will be equipped to enhance their skills and expertise to improve the quality of care to expectant mothers and reduce the risk of maternal deaths.

Theobald Sabi, NBC Bank’s Managing Director expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "As a responsible corporate citizen, NBC Bank is committed to positively impacting the communities we serve. We recognize the urgency of addressing maternal mortality in Tanzania, and we believe that by investing in the education and training of midwives, we can contribute significantly to saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns. We are proud to channel part of the proceeds from our annual fund-raising marathon, the NBC Dodoma Marathon, into this life-saving course. Every life counts.”

Dr. Ellen Mkondya, CEO of the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation, also emphasized the significance of the collaboration, remarking, "We are thrilled to partner with NBC Bank in our shared mission to reduce maternal mortality in Tanzania. The scholarships will empower midwives with the necessary skills and resources to ensure safe deliveries and provide comprehensive antenatal and postnatal care.

The two years scholarships worth 200mn/- provided will enable selected midwives to access specialized training programs to improve their skills to provide quality care to mothers and infants and reduce the risk of complications and mortality.

NBC Bank and the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation firmly believe that investing in midwifery education and training is a critical step towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, including reducing maternal mortality.

In the last three years, NBC Bank says had also committed 500mn/- in the fight against cervical cancer for women in Tanzania as part of corporate philanthropy.

 

 

 

 

 

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