Today, the Ifakara Health Institute engaged with five health facilities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) Program. The MoUs are expected to be signed in the near future.

The facilities to be involved in this agreement are Mabwepande District Hospital, Ubungo District Hospital, Kigamboni District Hospital, Kivule District Hospital, and Yombo Vituka Health Center.

Giving opening remarks at the engagement, Dr. Honorati Masanja, Chief Executive Director of Ifakara, expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their participation in what he described as a critical step in planning a way forward for Phase 2 of the Program.

Dr. Masanja highlighted the importance of this phase, emphasizing the need to build on the successes of Phase 1 and to ensure the effective rollout of the program's objectives in the participating facilities.

A look back on phase 2 and planning a way forward

The event had four key sessions: to discuss the impact and lessons learned from Phase 1, to outline the plans and expectations for Phase 2, presented by Dr. Nahya Salim Masoud, a member of the NEST360 steering committee and the Director of Research, Publications, and Innovation at our partner, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). 

The impact of NEST360 in Tanzania is significant, with the program currently being implemented in 25 health facilities across the country. So far, 12 clinical skills labs have been installed, more than 100 biomedical engineers, and over 800 health professionals have been trained.

Ifakara’s commitment to knowledge sharing

In the third session, Dr. Masanja guided partners through NEST360's publication policy and opportunities for data use within the program. He introduced the research component, highlighting the importance of using data on newborns not only to improve services but also to inform governing bodies locally and internationally. 

He also presented an opportunity for partners to publish research papers within the program and emphasized Ifakara's commitment to supporting these research initiatives, offering collaboration to contribute to the global body of knowledge on newborn care.

Remarks from govt

Remarks from Dr Mohamedi Mang'una,, the Regional Medical Officer in Dar es Salaam thanked all the partners for their contributions to Dar es Salaam and the country. He stated that with the addition of these five health facilities, Dar es Salaam will have a total of twelve neonatal wards in the city, stressing that this is a significant accomplishment and made a commitment to continue to support this initiative. 

The event concluded with a final session featuring a presentation by Cecilia Shiyo, a Legal Advisor at Ifakara, who discussed the contents of the MoUs to be shared with the respective facilities. The group agreed in principle to sign the MoUs in the days to follow.

About NEST360

The Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) is a global consortium dedicated to reducing newborn deaths by 50% in hospitals across several African countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria. The program is designed as an evidence-based model for sustainable health system change, addressing gaps in technology, markets, and human resources to implement 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 outlined in the National Guideline for Neonatal Care. The first phase of the program, which began in late 2019, was implemented in three tertiary hospitals: Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH Upanga), Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH Mloganzila), and Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) joined the program in February 2022. Additionally, the three regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam—Mwananyamala, Amana, and Temeke—started implementation in 2020. These tertiary hospitals serve as 'learning hubs' to ensure mentorship and supportive supervision within the selected regions.

With the signing of these new agreements, Phase 2 of NEST360 aims to further expand and strengthen newborn care services across Tanzania, bringing the program's life-saving interventions to more hospitals and, ultimately, saving the lives of countless newborns.