Naeema had complications with a previous childbirth, so when she was in labor, she and her sister walked to the newly constructed health center. Along the way, her contractions became really severe, so she stooped on the side of the dirt road and delivered the baby right there. A gentleman on a motorcycle picked her up and drove her down the road to The Maruku Health Center. The doctors and the team were able to care for her and monitor her vital signs in a safe, sterile environment at the Maruku Health Center. Prior to this, she would have had to travel an additional 45 minutes, by car to receive medical care, and would likely have died in route.

As of August 2023, the doctors performed their first C-Section at the health center. Surgeries are now able to be performed due to benevolent generosity which enabled the purchase of a Universal Anesthesia Machine, AEDs, an Ultrasound and other equipment and supplies. During the height of the COVID outbreak, Maruku Health Center was one of the few rural health centers with the capacity to provide COVID Vaccines due to adequate refrigeration which also donated by AHEAD, Inc.

In spite of recent improvements in Maternal and Infant Mortality throughout Tanzania, data still shows an Infant Mortality Rate of 34/1000 live births and maternal loss of life in the first 42 days after birth 220/100,000, still amongst the highest in the world.

In 2020, AHEAD, Inc. and AHEAD Tanzania expanded care at the Maruku Health Center to include the construction of a pediatric and two maternal wards with inpatient care. AHEAD, Inc. will continue to partner with the Maruku community in the further development of the Maruku Health Center as a state-of-the-art health center, and provide the health care resources necessary for mothers, infants, children, and families to thrive from birth, the early years of childhood, and throughout their lives. Medical, healthcare and education professionals understand that thriving children need a healthy start to life. Achieving this start requires good prenatal care, safe births, high-quality neonatal care, and optimal care for mothers who will birth and live to care for their children. Children need their mothers at their sides. Malnutrition and stunted growth need to be fought with breast feeding and nutrition education.

AHEAD, Inc. and AHEAD Tanzania and local partners plan to replicate or expand maternal and infant services through satellite clinics established in other communities in Rural Bukoba District as part of its long-term strategic goal. Strategic plans and goals include continuing health care beyond birth for women and young children by providing education on nutrition, breastfeeding, vaccination, dental care, and disease prevention, and educating new health care providers from the community who will participate in a village outreach program AHEAD, Inc. seeks to provide the following: