This week, I had the privilege of visiting Tanzania to witness the remarkable impact of m-mama, a national life-saving emergency transport service for mothers and babies which Vodafone Foundation has helped the Government of Tanzania to create.
In 2024 alone, m-mama successfully transported 68,733 mothers and babies in an emergency - a 66% increase from 2023 — all now owned and operated by the Government of Tanzania under the direction and leadership of H.E. Presidential Samia, which was rightly recognised by Gates Foundation this week.
During my visit, I met with mothers, fathers and their babies, each of them having benefited from m-mama, as well as dedicated doctors and nurses who support this vital program within the healthcare system. I also spoke with the dispatch center staff who efficiently manage incoming calls and manage ambulances and volunteer community drivers who provide lifesaving transport when ambulances aren’t available. It was inspiring to see the immense pride and collaboration shared by everyone involved in this amazing achievement.
In Tanzania, over two million mothers give birth each year. We know that some 3% of those mothers will need emergency clinical treatment. m-mama ensures that whether in the village, in the local dispensary or at the district hospital, they will receive emergency transport when they need it in order to reach critical care and treatment. 58% of those mothers transported receive emergency c-sections.
Since the national rollout was completed in September 2023, m-mama has reached full operational capacity, responding to an average of 8 emergencies every hour across all Regions of Tanzania and Zanzibar. A recent impact evaluation, conducted in partnership with the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), highlighted an estimated 5,304 lives of mothers and babies saved.
Vodafone Foundation is proud of the role it has played in the design and creation of m-mama, but also in the incredible partnership with the Government of Tanzania to help them create this emergency transport service which is now nationally available via a free *115 telephone number for the first time.
Huge thanks to Nick Land and Elizabeth Filkin, our trustees whose support for the programme is immeasurable and my wonderful team members Chris Dixon and Lucy Harris who joined me on this visit. I would also like to recognize the unsung heroes behind m-mama who have been committed to driving the project from the start and are now expanding its reach to save more lives in new countries: Carrie Cafaro, Dolorosa Duncan, Rahma Bajun, Dorothy Koech, Giulia Melfi and especially to Lee Wells. Their dedication and passion for this cause over many years is truly inspiring. This commitment has been mirrored by our Tanzania partners, Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, Pathfinder International and Touch Health. Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of mothers and babies across Tanzania - and beyond.
