IMPACT-Tanzania Project: Transforming pediatric and neonatal care

Emergency and critical care conditions are among the leading causes of under-five mortality in Tanzania. While clinical guidelines are well-established, their implementation is often hindered by systemic challenges such as staff shortages and insufficient medical equipment. These limitations lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, resulting to a reactive care model that places newborns and children at increased risk.

To address this, the Integrated Monitoring for a ProActive Care Transition in Tanzania (IMPACT-Tanzania) project is introducing a digital health solution called the IMPALA Patient Monitor, designed specifically for resource-limited settings, to shift healthcare delivery from reactive to proactive.

About the IMPALA Patient Monitor
Developed by Dutch health tech company GOAL 3, the IMPALA System is a fit-for-context, technology-enabled platform that empowers healthcare workers to provide timely, efficient, and high-quality care for pediatric and neonatal patients. It comprises three core components:

(i) The IMPALA Patient Monitor, which continuously tracks vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, non-invasive blood pressure, and temperature. It is designed for use across all age groups, with special adaptations for neonates and children. 
(ii)    The IMPALA Local Server, which ensures secure and decentralized data storage within hospital premises. It supports clinical documentation, health system reporting, and program monitoring, and includes an eight-hour battery backup to safeguard functionality during power outages. 
(iii)    The IMPALA Clinical Application, which provides an intuitive, real-time patient dashboard using a traffic-light indicator to flag critical cases. This enables healthcare workers to prioritize care effectively across wards. The application is adaptable to different hospital sizes and workflows.

The Role of Ifakara Health Institute
Ifakara Health Institute, under the leadership of Senior Research Scientist Donat Shamba, plays a central role in implementing the IMPACT project in Tanzania. In collaboration with national and regional health stakeholders, Ifakara will roll out the project in nine hospitals across Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Zanzibar. This effort aligns with the NEST360 program (another project implemented by Ifakara), which aims to improve neonatal outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.

Expected Impact in Tanzania
In Tanzania, it is anticipated that the project will improve health outcomes by significantly reducing neonatal and pediatric mortality through early detection and timely interventions within the selected health facilities.

It will also improve operational efficiency by streamlining workflows and easing the workload for healthcare providers. Furthermore, the project aims to establish a sustainable, data-driven model that can be replicated across regions and financed through a combination of public, private, and philanthropic funding sources.

Demonstrated Results of the IMPALA 
The IMPALA has already demonstrated significant improvements in clinical outcomes. In pilot implementations, neonatal mortality decreased by up to 42%, while pediatric mortality dropped by up to 32%. Hospital admission durations were reduced by nearly 47%, and more than 92% of healthcare workers reported a reduction in workload following the system’s introduction. 

Economically, the system has proven highly cost-effective by reducing the length of hospital stays and decreasing the need for intensive care interventions. These outcomes underscore the IMPALA’s effectiveness in improving both patient care and healthcare delivery efficiency. 

The IMPACT-Tanzania project promises a scalable, cost-effective approach to improving pediatric and neonatal outcomes in resource-constrained settings in the country. Through integrated technology and stakeholder-driven implementation, the project will contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.