Tanzania to invest US$360M in Community Health Program

TANZANIA—The Ministries of Health of Tanzania and Zanzibar have unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to implement the Integrated and Coordinated Community Health Workers (iCCHE) program to boost Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

This initiative is projected to require a total investment of US$360 million, with an estimated US$40 million allocated for the first year alone.

This funding announcement was made during a workshop held by the Africa CDC from September 2 to 6, 2024, in Dar es Salaam.

The workshop brought together donors and implementing partners to collaborate on developing the Community Health Acceleration Plan.

The iCCHE program is designed to expand Coordinated Community Health Workers initiatives across Tanzania, enhancing nationwide access to vital health interventions.

 According to Dr. James Matthew Guwani, head of the Community Health Division at Africa CDC, this effort contributes to UHC and aims to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030.

The plan, which encompasses both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, will span from 2024 to 2028, having been launched in 2023 in partnership with the President’s Office and local government.

One of the iCCHE’s primary goals is to establish a cohesive framework that aligns efforts, coordinates activities, mobilizes resources, and ultimately achieves meaningful outcomes in community health services.

The program will prioritize the professionalization of the community health workforce by deploying 137,294 Community Health Workers (CHWs) across 4,263 neighborhoods (Mitaa) and 64,384 hamlets throughout the country.

Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director of Preventive Services at Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, emphasized that the iCCHE is a top government priority.

This initiative is expected to significantly enhance maternal, newborn, and child health, improve nutrition and sanitation, and address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), thereby fostering individual and national development.

Dr. Kapologwe further noted that health financing must be comprehensive, encompassing broader issues like UHC, which currently stands below the 66% average in Tanzania.

He stressed the need for effective integration and coordination of CHWs to maximize impact and encouraged advocacy to attract donors for additional funding.

Dr. Barnabas Kwame Yeboah, a Community Health Specialist at Africa CDC, highlighted the importance of institutionalizing, integrating, and ensuring the sustainability of community health programs.

He called for strong political commitment and leadership at all levels to support structured financing and effective initiatives. 

To sustain and build upon the progress made thus far, key recommendations emerged from the workshop.

To mobilize resources for implementing the Community Health Acceleration Plan, high-level advocacy meetings with government officials and funding agencies must be conducted.

Additionally, an investment case should be developed to guide resource mobilization efforts, complemented by resource mapping to secure funding for the iCCHE program.

It is essential to fast-track the training of 28,000 community health workers from the ten priority regions and revise the Integrated Community Health Service Package and Training Curriculum to facilitate the deployment of CHWs.

Zanzibar is also expected to continue its training program for 3,000 community health workers, conducting high-level advocacy engagements to secure necessary resources for training kits.

Dr. Salim Slim, Director of Preventive Service and Health Education at the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar, highlighted the critical role of CHWs in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in both Tanzania and Zanzibar.

He noted their pivotal contributions to antenatal care, stating that Zanzibar is now measles-free, thanks to the diligent efforts of CHWs.

Looking ahead, Dr. Slim called for a collective commitment to achieving health goals and addressing pressing health challenges, including emerging threats like Mpox.

He announced that Zanzibar’s President recently launched a six-month initiative to recruit, train, and deploy community health workers.

Dr. Slim urged partners to contribute significantly to ensure the deployment kits for the 3,000 CHWs are ready before the first cohort graduates in the coming months.

The workshop attracted 76 participants, including Africa CDC staff, health ministry officials, and representatives from approximately 12 implementing and donor organizations.

This event followed a country consultation in May organized by Africa CDC and UNICEF in Addis Ababa. In line with the commitment of Heads of State and Governments, Africa CDC is dedicated to recruiting, training, and deploying 2 million Community Health Workers across the continent by 2030.

Dr. Guwani expressed confidence in the Tanzania Minister of Health’s commitment to fostering a collaborative working environment with health partners, ensuring the effective rollout of the iCCHE program.

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