Today, the Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) implemented in Tanzania by the Ifakara Health Institute and partners officially handed over renovated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) wards, along with essential newborn life-saving technologies, to Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital. 

The handover, officiated by Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu, marks a key milestone in efforts to improve the quality of care for small and sick newborns across the region.

The renovations and equipment—valued at TZS 186.7 million—were made possible through the collaborative efforts of NEST360 and its network of local and international partners. The upgraded facility is now positioned to serve as a centre of excellence in neonatal care, delivering high-impact services through the integration of appropriate technology, data-informed clinical decisions, ongoing training, and continuous quality improvement practices.

“I would like to thank the NEST360 program and Ifakara for their contribution to strengthening our delivery of quality care for small and sick newborns in the region,” said Guest of Honor Hon. Nurdin Babu. “As we work towards ending preventable newborn deaths, we are not only improving our health systems but we are also preventing tragedies for families and the loss of potential for our country.”

Situated in the heart of Moshi, Mawenzi Hospital plays a vital role in supporting district hospitals in Hai, Siha, Rombo, Same, and other areas, in addition to health centers and dispensaries throughout the Kilimanjaro region. As patient referrals from these facilities continue to grow, the newly renovated NICU and KMC wards will help ease congestion and expand the hospital’s capacity to deliver life-saving neonatal care. The renovation focused on three critical areas of the newborn ward, transforming them into safer, more efficient, and nurturing spaces for premature and ill newborns, as well as the mothers and healthcare providers who care for them.

The wards are now equipped with essential technologies such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, phototherapy units, and oxygen concentrators—tools proven to improve survival outcomes for vulnerable newborns. To ensure sustainability and proper usage of this equipment, NEST360 has trained more than 45 healthcare professionals, including nurses, clinicians, biomedical engineers, and technicians, in both clinical application and equipment maintenance.

“As we expand our efforts to support the nearly 483,000 newborns who require hospital care in Tanzania, NEST360 is partnering with regional and district hospitals to bring essential newborn care closer to communities, thereby strengthening the continuum of care,” said Dr. Honarati Masanja, NEST360 Tanzania Country Lead. “We urge government leaders to prioritize and invest in sustainable newborn care systems, ensuring small and sick newborns can access quality care right where they are born.”

In Tanzania, NEST360 works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hatch Technologies, and Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies. Together, they aim to deliver sustainable, systems-level solutions that can transform how hospitals provide care for the smallest and most vulnerable patients.

About NEST360

Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) is a global alliance of 23 organizations—18 of them based in Africa—working to end preventable newborn deaths by delivering comprehensive, hospital-based newborn care. The alliance partners with governments, academic institutions, and NGOs to ensure the long-term sustainability of quality newborn care services.