DMF: Tanzania extends paid maternity leave, supporting families of premature babies

Dar es Salaam. In February this year, Tanzania made history after the government extended its paid maternity leave for parents of premature babies, a policy change that will impact thousands of families.

During the 18th Meeting of the Fourth Session, the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania passed the Labor Laws Amendment Bill (NA.13) of 2024, which amended Section 33 to increase maternity leave for employees giving birth to preterm babies, allowing their maternity leave to be extended to cover the remaining weeks of the standard forty (40) weeks of pregnancy.

Additionally, the approved Bill has extended paternity leave for fathers of preterm babies from three days to seven days. The current law now reads as follows: If a mother gives birth to a premature baby at

24 weeks, she will be entitled to a paid maternity leave of nine months (40 weeks—24 weeks) + the current three months. And so forth.

“An employee who gives birth to a premature child is entitled to a paid maternity leave from the date of giving birth up to the completion of the forty weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave period provided under subsection (6) within the leave cycle.”

Every life deserves a fighting chance, and Doris Mollel embodies this belief with unwavering passion and dedication. Born at just 27 weeks, weighing a mere 900 grams, Doris fought against the odds from the very beginning. Growing up in a community where premature births are often shrouded in stigma, she turned her journey into a mission for change.

Through her unwavering passion, the Doris Mollel Foundation emerged as a beacon of hope, tirelessly advocating for maternal and child health, and transforming the narrative around preemie babies. Doris is leading the child and maternal health care movement and transforming lives- one tiny heartbeat at a time.

In 2015, Doris faced a profound revelation that would change her life. She discovered the traumatic journey that she and her twin brother endured as premature babies, a struggle that sparked a flame within her.

With unwavering determination, Doris founded the Doris Mollel Foundation (DMF), fueled by her powerful mantra: “If I stop fighting, the babies die.” This statement is not just words; it is a promise to countless vulnerable infants across Tanzania and Africa.

Over the years, DMF became the first and only organization to work hand in hand with the Tanzanian government on preterm infant care and lead groundbreaking policy reforms that had never been done before.

Today, there are just under 11 employees at DMF, with an extensive nationwide reach covering 27 out of 30 regions. DMF has saved more than 17,000 preterm babies’ lives and directly impacted thousands of adolescents, girls, youths, and women through its programs.

“We have built our success on a three-pillar approach: evidence-based advocacy, research-driven policy influence, and community-led mobilization. We ground our work in data and research, and ensure that every policy recommendation is backed by concrete evidence.

At the same time, we keep community voices at the center. Those directly affected by maternal and neonatal health challenges are not just beneficiaries but active participants in shaping our solutions.”

“In June 2018, we took the first step. DMF convened a stakeholder workshop in Dar es Salaam to discuss the importance of increasing parental leave for parents of premature babies; the event brought together key decision-makers. The discussions that day set the foundation for what would become a years-long fight to turn advocacy into law.

“We weren’t just raising awareness; we were demanding action. Just a few months later, in November 2018, DMF took the fight to Parliament.

Addressing female Members of Parliament at the National Assembly in Dodoma, we laid out the urgent need for policy change.

Premature babies, who face critical health challenges at birth, need specialized care and parents need time to provide it. For the first time in

Tanzania’s history, maternity leave reform was on the legislative agenda.

By 2021, we had gained momentum, but real change still required political will. That year, DMF, in collaboration with the Social Welfare

Committee of the Parliament, launched the Prematurity Agenda 2021, a nationwide campaign pushing for three key policy reforms in health insurance provision, education and paternity leave.

“Many people think our advocacy started three years ago, but it didn’t. DMF started advocating for policy changes in the maternal and child health sector in 2016. We have since led significant reforms that have shaped neonatal and maternal healthcare in Tanzania.

“In 2016, we introduced the case for integrating prematurity education into Tanzania’s national science curriculum, ensuring that future generations understand the complexities of neonatal care,” she said.

“By 2020, our advocacy expanded to health insurance reform that resulted in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Association of Tanzania Insurers (ATI) covering preterm medical care for the first time. In 2023, our efforts contributed to the Tanzanian government allocating $22.8 million to address prematurity-related challenges.

“This is the largest public investment in neonatal health in the country’s history. That same year, prematurity education was formally incorporated into the national school curriculum and provided primary and secondary students with knowledge of preterm care.”

Doris thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Vice President Dr Philip Mpango for supporting the premature agenda as well as partners, acknowledging that this victory would not have been possible without their support.

“Advocacy is never easy, and systemic change does not happen overnight, but I have always believed that persistence leads to progress. For the past ten years, no organization in Tanzania has convinced the government to amend so many laws in this area.

“And today, no other country in Africa has successfully advocated for such a policy change. Today, we celebrate a hard-fought victory, but tomorrow, we get back to work,” she concluded.