.jpg)
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (ANC–SRHR)
Project Overview
Location: Tanzania
Timeline: 2024 – 2027
Partner(s): Government of Tanzania (Ministry of Health), local organizations
Funding Partner: Global Affairs Canada
Focus Areas
-
Maternal and newborn health
-
Antenatal care (ANC)
-
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
-
Health systems strengthening
-
Gender-responsive care
Project Summary
The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies project supports efforts to improve access to antenatal and maternal healthcare services for women and girls in underserved communities in Tanzania.
Working with local health systems and community partners, the project combines health worker training, portable ultrasound technology, community outreach, and systems strengthening to support earlier identification of pregnancy-related complications and improve access to maternal healthcare services.
The project also promotes greater awareness of maternal and reproductive health and supports more gender-responsive approaches to care.
Why It Matters
Many women in rural Tanzania face significant barriers to accessing timely maternal healthcare, including long travel distances, limited diagnostic services, shortages of trained health workers, and social barriers that delay care-seeking.
These challenges can lead to preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth for both mothers and newborns.
Remote Ultrasound Antenatal Care Access (RUAA)
Location: Amhara and Oromia Regions, Ethiopia
Timeline: 2019–2025
Funding Partner: Global Affairs Canada
Partners: Government of Ethiopia and local stakeholders
Project Overview
The RUAA project was a pilot initiative designed to improve access to quality antenatal care for pregnant women in rural Ethiopia, where obstetric ultrasound and specialist services are often unavailable. Through health worker training and a tele-ultrasound mentorship model, the project strengthened early identification of pregnancy complications, improved referral pathways, and supported better maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Why It Matters
In many rural communities, women face significant barriers to accessing antenatal care, including long travel distances, high transportation costs, limited specialist services, and social factors that delay care-seeking. As a result, many pregnancies go without adequate monitoring, increasing the risk of preventable complications for both mothers and newborns. RUAA addressed these challenges by bringing ultrasound-supported care closer to communities and strengthening local health systems.
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
24M +
People
Reached
Individuals reached through CPAR-supported programs and initiatives.
20K +
Healthcare Professionals Trained
Physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers, and other frontline providers trained to deliver essential health services.
390 +
Health Facilities Strengthened
Health facilities supported through training, equipment, infrastructure improvements, technical assistance, and health systems strengthening initiatives.
110K +
Children and
Adolescents Engaged
Young people participating in education, life-skills, hygiene, environmental, and school-based development initiatives.
2.2K +
Water Sources
Improved
Community water sources constructed or rehabilitated to improve access to safe water.
12K +
Sanitation
Facilities Improved
School, household, and community sanitation facilities constructed or rehabilitated.
18K +
Handwashing Facilities Installed
Handwashing stations established or improved in schools, health facilities, and communities.
76M +
Trees
Planted
Trees planted through community-led environmental restoration and climate resilience initiatives.
_JPG.jpg)
Key Results
Improved Maternal and Child Health
-
7,297 pregnant women received tele-ultrasound examinations between 2020 and 2023
-
Obstetric complications decreased from 20% to 6% through earlier detection and intervention
-
Clinically significant findings were identified in 5.3% of pregnancies, leading to timely referrals
Strengthened Health Worker Capacity
-
14 frontline healthcare workers trained in ultrasound imaging and risk assessment
-
Increased confidence and independence among providers
-
Improved access to specialist expertise through remote consultations
Increased Community Awareness
-
More than 800 community members reached through education activities
-
Approximately 500,000 people reached through mass media campaigns
-
Increased male engagement in antenatal care and maternal health
Systems Strengthening
-
Expanded telemedicine capacity through improved connectivity
-
Local commitment to sustaining task-sharing approaches
-
Research generated to support future scale-up and replication
24 Million+
People Reached
Individuals reached through CPAR-supported programs and initiatives.
20,000+
Healthcare Professionals Trained
Physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers, and other frontline providers trained to deliver essential health services.
390+
Health Facilities Strengthened
Health facilities supported through training, equipment, infrastructure improvements, technical assistance, and health systems strengthening initiatives.
110,000+
Children and Adolescents Engaged
Young people participating in education, life-skills, hygiene, environmental, and school-based development initiatives.
2,200+
Water Sources Improved
Community water sources constructed or rehabilitated to improve access to safe water.
12,000+
Sanitation Facilities Improved
School, household, and community sanitation facilities constructed or rehabilitated.
18,000+
Handwashing Facilities Installed
Handwashing stations established or improved in schools, health facilities, and communities.
76 Million+
Trees Planted
Trees planted through community-led environmental restoration and climate resilience initiatives.
How We
Measure Results
.jpg)
CPAR uses project monitoring systems, partner reporting, evaluations, and field data to track progress and inform decision-making.
Unless otherwise noted, the figures presented above represent cumulative results from CPAR-supported programs since 1984.
.jpg)
Lasting Impact
RUAA helped strengthen primary healthcare systems by integrating ultrasound-supported antenatal care into routine services and building sustainable referral pathways for high-risk pregnancies. The project increased provider capacity, strengthened community trust in maternal health services, and encouraged earlier and more consistent antenatal care attendance. Together, these improvements continue to support healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and better outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Looking Ahead
CPAR and its partners will continue working with local health authorities and communities to strengthen maternal healthcare services and support sustainable, locally led approaches that improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
.jpg)
Looking Ahead
CPAR and its partners will continue working with local health authorities and communities to strengthen maternal healthcare services and support sustainable, locally led approaches that improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns.