Tanzanian President Appointed AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been appointed by the African Union as the Champion for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, reflecting Tanzania's commitment to improving health services for women and children.
The African Union (AU) has appointed Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the Champion for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This appointment was confirmed during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February 11 to 15, 2026.
Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Minister and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, highlighted that this role reflects Tanzania's growing recognition in advancing health services for women and children. President Hassan will serve a one-year term, during which she will coordinate and mobilize AU member states' efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality, strengthen health systems, and protect reproductive health rights across Africa.
Minister Kombo stated that President Hassan's selection follows recommendations from the 2025 report of the AU Heads of State and Government Committee on the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). During her visit to Ethiopia, President Hassan also engaged in discussions with fellow African leaders and international institutions to enhance diplomatic relations and promote economic cooperation for Tanzania's benefit.