Community empowerment: CDC collaboration with the CARE Community-Based Reproductive Health Project in two districts in Tanzania. Observations from the CDC.

This paper discusses the collaborative efforts among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to help minimize the high maternal mortality rate in Tanzania. This effort was made possible through the Community-Based Reproductive Health Project (CBRHP) funded by the US Agency for International Development. The collaboration was initiated in 1996 to improve the health status of mothers and newborns in Kwimba and Missungwi. Part of the project was the Training of Trainers Workshop conducted and attended by representatives from CARE MOH nongovernmental organizations focusing on womens issues local elected officials and community development officers. The CBRHP continues to work with communities to develop their own indicators for monitoring and evaluating their transport and supervision plans. Finally an assessment will be made on the role of CARE field officers in working with communities to resolve barriers in implementing transportation and supervision plans.