A network of global artists and renowned Tanzanian artists to raise awareness on the maternal health situation in Tanzania, through music and a song.

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tanzania has joined hands with MDGFive.com a network of global artists and renowned Tanzanian artists to raise awareness on the maternal health situation in Tanzania, through music and a song. 

Linked to the Sauti za Busara Festival in Zanzibar taking place next week MDG5.com, is organizing a 3 day music production workshop from the 7^th to  9^th February in Dar es Salaam. During this workshop MDGFive.com co-founders Emmy-winning filmmaker Lisa Russell and Grammy-winning singer Maya Azucena and New York’s famous MC Okai will together with Tanzanian stars Lady Jay Dee, Mzungu Kichaa, Mrisho Mpoto, FidQ, Sauda, Mama C and others, produce a song that calls for increased attention to maternal health.

Every minute a woman dies in childbirth. For each woman who dies, a family is shattered. Surviving children are deprived of a mother's care and put at risk. Communities suffer. Globally every year, $15 billion in productivity is lost due to maternal and newborn deaths. Persistent high maternal deaths and disabilities are also one of Tanzania’s greatest development challenges. Tanzania is one of 11 countries that comprises 65 percent of all maternal deaths worldwide.

 “UNFPA Tanzania believes that artists have an important role in shaping opinions, informing the public and advocating for positive change. While the voices of the marginalized are often not heard, the voices of artists break boundaries and are heard by all, the young and old, community leaders and policy makers, opinion shapers and development practitioners. With the help of artists we can make the voice of Tanzanian women and girls heard and we can make their future a better one”. Say UNFPA Representative, Dr. Julitta Onabanjo.

The three days Arts and Advocacy initiative will involve artists working together to produce a song that calls upon the leaders of the world to pay more attention to women and girls’ rights and that also calls upon the people of Tanzania to join hands to empower, engage and encourage women as partners in development. Moreover, mini documentary showcasing the workshop, interviews with participating artists and maternal health representatives on the importance of uniting artists and activists around maternal health will be produced alongside the famous Sauti Za Buzara music festival.

“It is our hope that this collaboration will inspire and enable those working on the ground to identify, integrate and collaborate with local artists in their maternal health and reproductive health advocacy and communication efforts and raise the awareness about the need for increased attention on women and girls development”. Dr. Onabanjo continued.

The initiative is supported through UNFPA and the Joint UN Programme on the Reduction of Maternal and Newborn Mortality and will contribute to Tanzania’s and the UNs efforts to achieve goals set under MDG5 (maternal Health and Universal access to Sexual Reproductive Health). It will support planned advocacy such as the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) and recent global efforts for more accountability under the global commission for information and accountability on women and children’s health, for which his Excellency President Jakaya Kikwete co chairs; help communicate to the Tanzanian and International Public about maternal health concerns and achievement serves as an opportunity to explore new partnership with artists.