The silent crisis behind child mortality figures in Tanzania

Graduands of Aga Khan University, Tanzania, during their graduation ceremony held in Dar es Salaam yesterdaya. PHOTO | MICHAEL MATEMANGA

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has made notable progress in reducing deaths among mothers and children over the past decade, yet behind these gains lies a stubborn and dangerous gap: a severe shortage of paediatric and child health specialists.

As the country intensifies efforts to save more newborns and children under five, the lack of trained experts is emerging as one of the most serious threats to sustaining and accelerating progress.