On September 30, 2024, in a ceremony held at the Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Zanzibar, key partners of the Newborn Essential Solutions & Technologies (NEST360) program in Tanzania, including the Ministry of Health, officially launched skills labs at KIST, the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) and the new Lumumba Hospital.

NEST360 has previously established similar labs at Muhimbili National Hospital and the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), equipped with advanced technologies that enable doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and technical staff to practice essential newborn care techniques in accordance with Tanzania’s national guidelines. The training provides hands-on experience with newborn care equipment and has now expanded to Zanzibar.

In her opening remarks on behalf of Dr. Honorati Masanja, Ifakara Health Institute’s Chief Executive Director and NEST360 Country Lead, Dr. Nahya Salim Masoud, highlighted the significance of the event as a step towards saving lives: “The World Health Organization estimates that nearly one million newborns die each year in sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to inequities in health resources needed for adequate care. The good news is that most of these deaths can be prevented with low-cost interventions. Nowhere is the impact of quality newborn care more critical than in Africa.”

This launch is part of NEST360’s broader mission to partner with the government and universities to deliver clinical and biomedical equipment engineering training through competency-based pre-service programs aimed at improving newborn survival.

NEST contributes equipment

As part of Phase Two (2024-2029), NEST360 has contributed equipment worth TZS 48.7 million to the Technical Skills Lab at KIST, TZS 23 million for the Clinical Skills Lab at SUZA, and TZS 23 million for the Clinical Skills Lab at the new Lumumba Hospital. “This equipment will ensure that our students—future doctors and nurses—not only learn about the diseases that contribute to newborn deaths but also receive hands-on training in life-saving technologies.” expressed Dr Nahya. 

The labs will also promote collaboration between healthcare professionals and biomedical engineers, a critical component for delivering effective newborn care. In addition to providing essential equipment, NEST360 will continue to train instructors to ensure long-term sustainability of these programs. The initiative also includes ongoing technical assistance to the Zanzibar Ministry of Health through a co-investment approach.

Dr. Nahya delivered this message and handed over the equipment on behalf of NEST360 and its key partners implementing this program in Tanzania, including the Ministry of Health, Dar Es Salaam Institute of Technology, Ifakara Health Institute, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hatch Technologies, and the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies.

Phase 1 success

The first phase of NEST360’s implementation in Dar es Salaam involved Muhimbili National Hospital’s Upanga and Mloganzila branches, as well as Regional Referral Hospitals in Amana, Mwananyamala, and Temeke. The program extended to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital.

During Phase One, the program trained 1,813 healthcare professionals and biomedical equipment engineers and provided medical equipment worth TZS 3.8 billion to improve newborn care in Tanzania. It also facilitated the enhancement of ward environments in regional hospitals at a cost of TZS 571.4 million.

About NEST360

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

In Tanzania, the NEST program works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to improve the quality of comprehensive newborn care units as stipulated in the National guideline for neonatal care and the establishment of neonatal care units.

Phase I of the program started in late 2019 in three tertiary hospitals i.e., Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH Upanga), Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH Mloganzila) and Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital. Implementation at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) started in February 2022. The three regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam i.e., Mwananyamala, Amana and Temeke started implementation in 2020. The tertiary hospitals will be the ‘learning hubs’ to ensure mentorship and supportive supervision within the selected regions.