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. 2007 Jun;96(6):781-6.
doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00293.x. Epub 2007 Apr 27.

Shed some light on darkness: will Tanzania reach the millennium development goals?

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Shed some light on darkness: will Tanzania reach the millennium development goals?

Annika Janson. Acta Paediatr. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

The overall picture of health in sub-Saharan Africa can easily be painted in dark colours. The aim of this viewpoint is to discuss epidemiological data from Tanzania on overall health indicators and the burden of malaria and HIV. Is the situation in Tanzania improving or deteriorating? Are the health-related millennium development goals (MDG) on reducing under-five mortality, reducing maternal mortality and halting HIV and malaria within reach?

Conclusion: Child mortality and infant mortality rates are decreasing quite dramatically. Malaria prevention strategies and new effective treatment are being launched. The MDG 4 on child mortality is clearly within reach, and the same optimism may apply to MDG 6 on combating malaria.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Child survival rates in Tanzania continue to improve and under-five mortality has fallen by one-third since 1990. ‘Afya’ means health in Swahili.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Malaria is contributing to a large share of deaths in infants and young children. The picture shows rapid testing for malaria with a direct dipstick method that requires neither electricity nor a laboratory technician.

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