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United Republic of TanzaniaAccounting for commitments and resultsSub-Saharan Africa is making the least progress towards MDGs 4 and 5, but a few countries in theregion are on track – particularly for child health.Tanzania, for example, has made significant progress in child health since 2000 and is now on track forMDG 4. According to WHO, the under-five mortality rate in Tanzania declined from 81/1000 live birthsin 2010 to 65.2/1000 in 2011 – closer to the MDG target of 54/1000. Similarly, infant mortality declinedfrom 51/1000 live births in 2010 to 45/1000 in 2011.This achievement is partly due to sustained high coverage for immunization and vitamin Asupplementation, and improved malaria control and treatment. The coverage for three-doses ofpentavalent vaccine, was 92% in 2011. Malaria control reduced the disease in children under five from18% in 2007/08 to 10% in 2012. Currently, 72% ofchildren under five sleep under insecticidetreatednets, meeting the targets for universalcoverage.However, we recognize that, even if we achieveMDG 4, the number of under-five deaths will stillbe unacceptably high – while progress towardsMDG 5 for maternal health has been too slow.We recognize that, even if we achieveMDG 4, the number of under-fivedeaths will still be unacceptably high –while progress towards MDG 5 formaternal health has been too slow.I had the honour of co-chairing the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's andChildren's Health with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. This made 10 recommendationsfor implementation, and defined effective accountability in a cycle of monitor, review and action.The 10 recommendations focus on:(i)Better information for better results. Timely, accurate and reliable data to inform policymakingand planning by ensuring efficient use of resources for planning;(ii) Better tracking of resources. To ensure commitments are honoured and funds are allocatedefficiently;(iii) Global and national oversight . The independent Expert Review Group – recommended bythe Commission – produced its first report in 2012. It noted that progress in implementing the10 recommendations has been slow, so I call upon all stakeholders to prioritize and accelerate ourefforts.Tanzania remains strongly committed to women’s and children’s health. We are rolling out theelectronic District Health Information System (DHIS) to improve timeliness and reliability of data.Our initiatives to strengthen birth registration and maternal death surveillance, and to institutionalizenational health accounts, are ongoing. And we are implementing the Primary Health ServiceDevelopment Programme to improve access to health facilities and women’s access to emergencyobstetric care. Health training and recruitment are also key areas of focus, and we continue effortsto increase family planning coverage.To save the lives of even more children, we will focus on newborn care and the prevention, control andmanagement of pneumonia and diarrhoea. Immunization programmes for two vaccines – pneumococcaland rotavirus – has been introduced in January 2013. We are also scaling up nutrition for both womenand children.My wish is that we will all continue to hold ourselves and each other accountable to the promises wehave made to women and children around the globe.Jakaya Mrisho KikwetePresident of the United Republic of TanzaniaTo ContentsThe Global Campaign for the Health Millennium Development Goals – Report 2013 33