ZANZIBAR authorities have reported a notable decline in maternal and neonatal deaths, showing progress in the healthcare sector, despite that there is still a lot to be done to reach international benchmarks.

Dr Saada Mkuya, the Health acting minister, made this observation when addressing the House of Representatives here yesterday, indicating that the maternal mortality ratio dropped to 119 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, down from 145 deaths in 2023.

She was responding to a query from Fatma Ramadhani Mohamed (Special Seats) regarding the impact of government interventions, profiling a multi-pronged strategy that has contributed to obtaining these improved figures.

Key among them is expansion of 24-hour maternity services in more health centers, with improved emergency obstetric and newborn Care (EmONC) facilities, ensuring that critical interventions such as blood transfusions and surgical capacities are available around the clock.

Saving more lives during the crucial hour of delivery complications was possible by having intensified the maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response system, “involving a rigorous audit of every reported death to identify systemic failures and implement immediate corrective measures,” the minister explained.

To sustain this momentum, the government is investing in the human element of healthcare, with skills upgrading via intensive training for skilled birth attendants and midwives on neonatal resuscitation, along with caring for premature infants.

Resource availability is targeted, by improving the supply chain for essential medicines, medical equipment and safe blood units, while cultural engagement is taken up by partnering with religious and traditional leaders to discourage home births and encourage clinical deliveries, she stated.

"Our goal is to reach the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2030) target of reducing maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 live births and neonatal deaths to 12 per 1,000 live births," she said, affirming that neonatal mortality dipped slightly from 13.2 in 2023 to 12.7 in 2024.

Despite these gains, a shortage of specialists remains a hurdle, with 119 health professionals hired in 2025 while plans are underway to recruit more and improve the working environment to retain talent, she said.

Husbands need to accompany their wives to prenatal clinics to ensure a supportive environment for safe motherhood, the minister added.