Pediatric & Neonatal Services
Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), Arusha, Tanzania
Our Team at ALMC:
Saving Newborn Lives in Tanzania
Each year, over 3 million newborn and stillborn children are lost worldwide—many in Sub-Saharan Africa, where limited resources and preventable complications make survival difficult. In Tanzania, newborn deaths accounted for a third of all child mortality, yet many went unrecorded, hiding the true scale of the crisis.
A Humble Beginning
In 2013 we had a small, under-equipped NICU with high mortality rates and few trained staff. Most care was provided by rotating junior doctors and nurses, making it hard to build the expertise needed for fragile newborns.
Developed Evidence-Based, Innovative Models of Neonatal Care
Over the last decade Dr. Swanson and his Tanzanian colleagues made dramatic improvements in the NICU setting at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center using evidence - based, innovative models of neonatal care appropriate from limited income settings. More than 90% of all babies including extremely premature babies weighing less than 2.2 pounds or 1,000 grams now survive in this NICU setting.
Transforming Care Through Teamwork
Changing the Narrative
These changes helped us achieve a 92% survival rate for preterm and critically ill newborns in our NICU—proof that with the right care, even the most vulnerable lives can be saved.
- Delivers low-cost, high impact neonatology services of premature and hospitalized newborns.
- Provides specialty outpatient and inpatient pediatric care.
- Mentoring doctors and nurses in pediatrics.
Saving Newborn Lives in Tanzania
Each year, over 3 million newborn and stillborn children are lost worldwide—many in Sub-Saharan Africa, where limited resources and preventable complications make survival difficult. In Tanzania, newborn deaths accounted for a third of all child mortality, yet many went unrecorded, hiding the true scale of the crisis.
A Humble Beginning
In 2013 we had a small, under-equipped NICU with high mortality rates and few trained staff. Most care was provided by rotating junior doctors and nurses, making it hard to build the expertise needed for fragile newborns.
Developed Evidence-Based, Innovative Models of Neonatal Care
Over the last decade Dr. Swanson and his Tanzanian colleagues made dramatic improvements in the NICU setting at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center using evidence - based, innovative models of neonatal care appropriate from limited income settings. More than 90% of all babies including extremely premature babies weighing less than 2.2 pounds or 1,000 grams now survive in this NICU setting.
Transforming Care Through Teamwork
- Focusing on nurses as the foundation of neonatal care. Nurse rotations ended, and experienced volunteers from abroad partnered with Tanzanian staff to build skills, trust, and teamwork. Nurses were assigned specific babies, joined daily rounds, and became key decision-makers.
- Doctors received long-term mentorship focused on critical thinking, collaboration, and bedside learning. This supportive environment helped several junior physicians become pediatric specialists, with more on the way.
- Parents became active participants in care—providing skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care), learning feeding techniques, and communicating directly with the medical team. This family-centered approach built trust and improved outcomes.
Changing the Narrative
These changes helped us achieve a 92% survival rate for preterm and critically ill newborns in our NICU—proof that with the right care, even the most vulnerable lives can be saved.
ICHA and ALMC Sign Agreement
Strengthening Pediatric & Neonatal Care in Northern Tanzania
Media Release, 18 November 2025
The Institute for Child Healthcare Africa – Tanzania (ICHA-TZ) and Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC/ELCT-NCD) have signed a three-year Service Agreement to jointly sustain and expand high-quality pediatric and neonatal care at ALMC—strengthening their shared commitment to improving outcomes for newborns and children across northern Tanzania.
ICHA-TZ, an international NGO, works to provide evidence-based, compassionate medical care to children through education, research, and collaboration with hospitals throughout Africa. Guided by core values of Excellence, Education, Integrity, and Equity, ICHA-TZ has become a leading force in neonatology training through its Tiny Feet, Big Steps African Neonatology Conferences and the publication of Every Breath Counts Manual of Neonatal Care & Drug Doses.
Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), operated under the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania North Central Diocese, is widely recognized for its premier neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services, and for consistently having one of the highest NICU survival rates reported in East Africa.
Under this agreement, the organizations will co-manage all pediatric services, including the Pediatric Medical Ward, NICU, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Unit, and Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.
ICHA-TZ will provide: pediatric specialists, physicians, supervisory nursing support, equipment and capacity-building.
ALMC provides: hospital space, nursing staff, infrastructure and administrative support .
The partnership emphasizes shared financial responsibility, strengthened clinical capacity, high standards of ethics and accountability, and shared mission.
Together, ICHA-TZ and ALMC reaffirm their commitment to advancing excellence in pediatric and neonatal medicine and ensuring that all critically ill newborns receive the lifesaving care they deserve.
The Institute for Child Healthcare Africa – Tanzania (ICHA-TZ) and Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC/ELCT-NCD) have signed a three-year Service Agreement to jointly sustain and expand high-quality pediatric and neonatal care at ALMC—strengthening their shared commitment to improving outcomes for newborns and children across northern Tanzania.
ICHA-TZ, an international NGO, works to provide evidence-based, compassionate medical care to children through education, research, and collaboration with hospitals throughout Africa. Guided by core values of Excellence, Education, Integrity, and Equity, ICHA-TZ has become a leading force in neonatology training through its Tiny Feet, Big Steps African Neonatology Conferences and the publication of Every Breath Counts Manual of Neonatal Care & Drug Doses.
Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), operated under the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania North Central Diocese, is widely recognized for its premier neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services, and for consistently having one of the highest NICU survival rates reported in East Africa.
Under this agreement, the organizations will co-manage all pediatric services, including the Pediatric Medical Ward, NICU, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Unit, and Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.
ICHA-TZ will provide: pediatric specialists, physicians, supervisory nursing support, equipment and capacity-building.
ALMC provides: hospital space, nursing staff, infrastructure and administrative support .
The partnership emphasizes shared financial responsibility, strengthened clinical capacity, high standards of ethics and accountability, and shared mission.
Together, ICHA-TZ and ALMC reaffirm their commitment to advancing excellence in pediatric and neonatal medicine and ensuring that all critically ill newborns receive the lifesaving care they deserve.
TV coverage of the event
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