The country
Tanzania is a country in East Africa with extraordinary geographical diversity. Its territory ranges from the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro to the vast savannahs of the Serengeti, passing through the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the great lakes of the interior. This diversity of landscapes has made Tanzania one of the most popular tourist destinations on the African continent.
As of 2023, the population of Tanzania was approximately 65,497,760. Population growth is significant, with a population growth rate of 3%. The population distribution is predominantly rural, with 67.9% living in rural areas. Life expectancy at birth is approximately 65 years for men and 68 years for women.
Socioeconomically, Tanzania is a developing country. The Tanzanian economy is mainly based on agriculture, fishing and tourism. Despite the tourism potential and the wealth of natural resources, the country still faces significant challenges such as social inequality, poverty and dependence on climatic conditions in agriculture.
Tanzania is considered one of the most stable countries in East Africa, with a long democratic tradition, and has regularly held free and pluralistic elections. However, political challenges remain numerous, including the fight against corruption and the promotion of sustainable development.
The health situation also presents significant challenges, with infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever, especially in rural areas and among the most vulnerable populations. Access to basic health services is limited, with shortages of qualified medical personnel and adequate infrastructure, especially outside major cities. Infant and maternal mortality are still high, due to complications during childbirth, malnutrition and preventable diseases.
In 2022, the neonatal mortality rate in Tanzania was approximately 19.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. This highlights the urgent need to improve neonatal care in the country, where access to quality health services is limited and resources are scarce.
(Source: data.who.int)
Tanzania in numbers
Tanzania in numbers
Our intervention
One of the main institutional purposes of the Chiesi Foundation is the promotion of medical-scientific research activities, with particular attention to the study of diseases in the respiratory or neonatology fields.
Launched in 2021, the IMPULSE (Improving Quality and Use of Newborn Indicators) project, supported by Chiesi Foundation, has as its primary objective to generate scientific evidence on effective methods and tools to improve the quality of neonatal data in sub-Saharan Africa. This research project, implemented in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Tanzania and Uganda, aims to contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of newborns, especially small and sick newborns admitted to neonatal units.
Since the project started, important milestones have been achieved. After defining the first phases and selecting the research teams in the different countries, the data collection and analysis were carried out.
During 2023, data collection was completed in all the countries involved and the first analyses began. In parallel, a “Theory of Change” model was developed that will outline the future actions of the project. This model, the result of a broad consultation process with all the actors involved, was approved by the Management Board of the Chiesi Foundation.
The results obtained so far by the IMPULSE project demonstrate the importance of investing in research to improve the quality of neonatal care in low-income countries. Thanks to this project, it will be possible to develop more effective tools and methodologies to monitor and evaluate the quality of care provided to newborns, thus contributing to reducing infant mortality and improving the health of new generations.
Our intervention
One of the main institutional purposes of the Chiesi Foundation is the promotion of medical-scientific research activities, with particular attention to the study of diseases in the respiratory or neonatology fields.
Launched in 2021, the IMPULSE (Improving Quality and Use of Newborn Indicators) project, supported by the Chiesi Foundation, has as its primary objective to generate scientific evidence on effective methods and tools to improve the quality of neonatal data in sub-Saharan Africa. This research project, implemented in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Tanzania and Uganda, aims to contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of newborns, especially small and sick newborns admitted to neonatal units.
Since the project started, important milestones have been achieved. After defining the first phases and selecting the research teams in the different countries, the data collection and analysis were carried out.
During 2023, data collection was completed in all the countries involved and the first analyses began. In parallel, a “Theory of Change” model was developed that will outline the future actions of the project. This model, the result of a broad consultation process with all the actors involved, was approved by the Management Board of the Chiesi Foundation.
The results obtained so far by the IMPULSE project demonstrate the importance of investing in research to improve the quality of neonatal care in low-income countries. Thanks to this project, it will be possible to develop more effective tools and methodologies to monitor and evaluate the quality of care provided to newborns, thus contributing to reducing infant mortality and improving the health of new generations.
