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ENGAGEMENT: NEST360 meets health stakeholders to discuss program progress

Dec. 2, 2022 From 8:00 hours EAT
ENGAGEMENT: NEST360 meets health stakeholders to discuss program progress
A participant contributes to the discussion during the NEST360 meeting held in Dar es Salaam from December 1-2, 2022. PHOTO | IFAKARA/KMC

The NEST360 team met with health stakeholders in Dar es Salaam from December 1-2, 2022 to discuss the program’s implementation progress in Tanzania.

NEST360 is a four-year program that aims to reduce newborn deaths and is implemented by Ifakara Health Institute in collaboration with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Rice University (US), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM, UK) and the Tanzania Ministry of Health (MoH).

The program is part of ongoing efforts to reduce newborn deaths in the country due to preventable and treatable causes such as prematurity, infections and birth complications. In Tanzania, the program is currently being implemented in seven hospitals within three regions of Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Mbeya. 

These hospitals include: Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH - Upanga and MNH - Mloganzila), Amana, Mwananyamala and Temeke hospitals, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Mbeya Zonal and referral Hospital (MZRH).

Over twenty-five stakeholders from the five hospitals in Dar es Salaam attended the two-day meeting including the Directors of MNH and Mloganzila, Prof. Mohamed Janabi and Dr. Faraja Chiwanga. Also in attendance were medical officers in-charge, doctors in-charge and nurses in-charge.

Dr. Honorati Masanja, Ifakara’s Chief Executive Director and program’s Principal Investigator, was also in attendance and was accompanied by Catherine Paul, the NEST360 Country Director. 

In his opening remarks, Dr. Masanja gave an overview of the NEST360 program and the role Ifakara plays in implementing it in Tanzania.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress made by the NEST360 program from its inception until October 2022. They also discussed implementation challenges, barriers and emerging issues hindering impact of the NEST360 program, with participating stakeholders sharing feedback on how to strengthen the program. 

Lastly, the participants discussed action plans to finish phase 1 and the approach to take to implement phase 2 of the NEST360 program in Tanzania.

About NEST360
Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) is a global consortium committed to reducing newborn deaths by 50% in hospitals, currently working in Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria. 

The program, which in Tanzania is being implemented by Ifakara Health Institute and a bunch of other partners, is an evidence-based model for sustainable health system change to close the gaps in technology, markets, and human resources for the implementation of quality hospital-based newborn care on a national scale.

>> Link to event photo gallery: https://ifakarahealthinstitute.smugmug.com/NEST-Meeting-at-Slipway-Hotel-Dar/