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Profile
In the United Republic of Tanzania, the health of
children and women is threatened by poor nutrition, gender
inequalities and female illiteracy levels. Some specific public
health concerns are outlined below
( WHO,
2007)
HIV PREVALENCE
 HIV prevalence
previously recorded as 9.9% (Poverty and Human Development Report
2000) is currently reported at 7% (2003 -2004 Indicator Survey,
National AIDS Control Programme). The cross-cutting effects of the
pandemic have produced a rapidly growing orphan population.
Responses to mitigate the attendant economic and social effects are
piecemeal and
insufficient
.
The high prevalence of
malnutrition (21.8% underweight, 37.7% stunting of children) and
high level of food poverty (22% below food poverty line and 39%
below basic needs poverty line) is a grave concern for individuals
already weakened by HIV. Agriculture has persistently been affected
by factors resulting in low productivity and incomes.
ACCESS TO HEALTH
SERVICES
Inequity in access to
social services is mainly due to skewed income distribution, high
levels of income poverty and non-functional social protection for
the poor. The low income of the majority of the populations hinders
their accessibility to health services as medicines and other
services are unaffordable. At the national level, low financial
capacity limits adequate resource allocations to the sector leading
to inadequate service provisions
QUICK FACTS
- Maternal mortality
ratio (MMR): 578 per 100 000 live births
- Neonatal mortality ratio at 32 per 1 000 live births
- Infant mortality rate is estimated at 68 per 1 000 live births
- 19.3% of children are underweight and 31.1% are stunted in some
districts
(Source: Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator
Survey 2003-04)
Opportunities
After a series of major economic and social
changes, the Government adopted a different approach to the role of
private sector. New policies were developed that looked favourably on
the role of the private sector. The importance of the private sector in health
care delivery was further recognized with an amendment to the
Private Hospitals (Regulatory) Act, 1977 which resulted into the
establishment of the Private Hospitals (Regulation) (Amendment) Act,
1991. following this act, individual qualified medical practitioners
and dentists could now manage private – hospitals, with the approval
of the Ministry of Health.
At
IDIS,
we have consultants with expertise in the health sector, making it
one of our strongest divisions within the company.
For more
information or if you have a particular project that you would like
to implement, please
contact us. |
