The aim of the partnership between the German Society of Tropical Paediatrics & International Child Health and Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is to enhance neonatal care at the partner hospital.
Problem: Reducing neonatal mortality is a priority of the Tanzanian Government, but the country still has too few medical specialists. Premature births in particular result in a high number of deaths among newborn infants and children under the age of five in Tanzania.
Main activities: Within the scope of the project, the partner hospital is being fitted out with modern ultrasound equipment. Together, the project partners devise training seminars on the use of modern ultrasound equipment and on various aspects of neonatal care for the medical staff at the partner hospital. A selected number of paediatricians from Muhimbili National Hospital are being given the opportunity to deepen their specialist expertise by spending several weeks shadowing their colleagues in Germany.
Short-term results: The use of modern ultrasound equipment and the broader knowledge of the health professionals will ensure better neonatal care in the partner hospital.
Long-term results: The staff are to pass on their newly acquired expertise to students at the affiliated university. In the longer term, modern treatment techniques are thus to be used outside the partner hospital too.