Zanzibar has witnessed a significant decline in maternal and newborn mortality rates, with maternal deaths reported at 119 per 100,000 live births in 2024, a reduction from 145 in the previous year. Newborn mortality has also improved, dropping from 13.2 to 12.7 per 1,000 live births. According to Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum, the acting Health Minister, these advancements are a result of enhancements in healthcare services, including the establishment of 24-hour maternity services, improved emergency care, and better monitoring of maternal health outcomes.

The government attributes this positive trend to a strategic focus on bolstering healthcare frameworks, which entails training more skilled midwives and ensuring the availability of essential medicines and equipment. Additionally, efforts to improve community engagement, particularly through partnerships with religious and local leaders, have encouraged more women to seek facility-based deliveries, which is crucial for safe motherhood.

Looking ahead, Zanzibar's government aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 live births and newborn deaths to 12 per 1,000 live births by the year 2030. This ambitious target underscores the importance of continuing to build upon recent gains while further addressing the healthcare challenges that remain in the region.