Mwanza, Kwimba District, Tanzania — Feb, 26
Keep a Child Alive (KCA), together with the Doris Mollel Foundation (DMF), will open the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tanzania at Ngudu Hospital, marking a significant milestone in efforts to reduce preventable newborn deaths in underserved communities. The official inauguration of the unit will take place on February 28, 2026, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) representatives.
The new unit is part of Every Life – A Newborn Survival Initiative across Africa, a purpose-driven effort to close the newborn survival gap by expanding access to high-quality, timely care during the most critical hours of life.
Once operational, the unit is expected to support more than 1,300 sick and low-birth-weight newborns every year, bringing life-saving care closer to families in the Kwimba District.
Globally, millions of newborns die each year from causes that are largely preventable with timely, quality care. The highest risk occurs in the first hours and days after birth, a period when access to specialized care can mean the difference between life and death. In many parts of rural Tanzania, families have historically been forced to travel long distances—often more than 100 kilometers—to reach emergency newborn services, resulting in dangerous delays.
“A place where babies will not only survive but thrive. Where mothers will be treated with the dignity and care they deserve. This is the beginning of a generational change”, said Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez, Executive Chairman & CEO of Keep a Child Alive. “We are closing the newborn survival gap by expanding access to high-quality, sustainable, parent-centred Neonatal Intensive Care in underserved regions of Africa”.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ngudu Hospital has been designed to integrate into the local health system and support trained healthcare staff with essential equipment and resources. The model emphasizes care that keeps mothers and babies together whenever possible and strengthens long-term capacity within the community.
Doris Mollel, Founder of the Doris Mollel Foundation, said the upcoming inauguration represents more than the opening of a facility. “This unit stands for dignity, equity, and hope. It is about protecting the lives of the smallest and most vulnerable and supporting families at the very beginning of life.”
The February 28 inauguration will bring together healthcare leaders, partners, and community representatives to mark the official launch of the unit and highlight the broader vision of scaling newborn survival solutions to other high-need regions.
More information about Every Life – A Newborn Survival Initiative and how to support the project is available at:
https://www.keepachildalive.org/every-life-a-newborn-survival-initiative/
