GENERAL
ECONOMIC REVIEW | PRIVATE
SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES|
SPECIAL
DEVELOPMENT ISSUE | DEVELOPMENTS IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY
Agriculture
Natural Resources and Tourism
Mining
Manufacturing and Internal Trade
Construction and Land Development
Transport and Communications
Energy
Water
Education and Training
Health
Community Development
Acronomys and Abbreviations
General Health Status
303.
There
had been an increase of patients attending health facilities.
In 2002, there were 1,328,395 patients who were treated in various
hospitals compared to 1,167,139 in 2001.
This is an increase of 12.1 percent.
Patients who attended health centres were 3,258,520, an increase
of 22.9 percent when compared to 2,511,624 in 2001.
The number of patients who were treated in various dispensaries
in 2002 were 19,695,356 compared to 17,218,371 treated in 2001, an increase
of 25.7 percent. The increasing trend may be a result of peoples’
better understanding of the importance of making use of technological
and scientific health services. Patients
admitted in various health facilities in the country were 701,568, an
increase of 3 percent compared to
680,263 admitted in 2001.
Malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery and acute respiratory diseases continued
to lead in affecting the people as in the previous year. The spread of HIV/AIDS is still a threat to
the nation.
304.
Malaria
is still a big threat to the health and lives of the people.
In 2002, the government continued to supervise the implementation
of the new guidelines for treatment of malaria.
The Government continued to conduct research on this treatment
in order to determine the magnitude of the problems and side effects faced
in one way or the other by those who have used it.
In case the research findings indicate serious side effects, the
Government will decide on the use of an alternative treatment.
305.
HIV/AIDS
continued to be a threat to people of all age groups in 2002.
The Government in collaboration with non-government organizations,
institutions and individuals continued to strengthen public sensitization
campaigns against HIV/AIDS. Also,
the Government continued to provide public health education on the prevention
and hospital and home based care of the sick.
In addition, it continued to ensure provision of blood safety and
the provision of quality medical services on the treatment of sexually
transmitted-diseases.
Medical Services
306.
In 2002, medical services continued to be provided according
to the laid guidelines on supervising and ensuring the availability of
standard essential drugs and other necessary medical supplies in all health
facilities according to planned needs. Various departmental buildings
continued to be constructed at Mbeya regional hospital. Regional hospital buildings of Arusha and
Preventive Services
307.
As
it was in the previous year, the provision of preventive services continued
to be improved. A new vaccine “Hepatat B”
was introduced in January
2002. Immunization services for the under fives increased
from 74 percent in 2001 to 79 percent in 2002. The Government also continued to provide immunization
services throughout the country on six dangerous immunizable diseases;
which are whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, tuberculosis, polio and
measles. Government’s strategies
that aimed at eradicating polio by 2005 continued to be implemented and
the vaccination coverage reached 87 percent nation-wide. Health education on nutrition that assist an
individual to have natural immunity continued to be provided to those
who attended health care centres and other institutions such as schools
and colleges.
Facilities
for Medical Services
308.
There were 217 hospitals in 2002.
This was an increase of two special hospitals, Ocean Road Cancer
Institute and Muhimbili Orthopeadic Institute (MOI) which were formerly
parts of
Number of Graduates in the Health Profession
309.
There
were 61 Tanzanian medical doctors and 130 assistant medical doctors who
graduated in 2002. Also, 260 graduated in nursing grade “A”, 980
in nursing grade “B” and 42
as assistant health officers.
A total of 639 clinical officers graduated in 2002, an increase
of 5 percent compared to 608 graduands in 2001.
Operating Costs for Health Services
310.
In
2002, the Government continued to implement the various strategies which
were adopted in order to reduce operating costs and delivery of better
health services. The strategies adopted cost-sharing, continued
to be implemented and strengthened through community health fund and health
insurance scheme. Availability of essential drugs in areas under this
programme continued to improve compared to those which are not under the
programme. Cost sharing is being practised in all Government regional
and district hospitals while at the level of health centres it is implemented only
in districts which have the Community Health Funds. Cost sharing accounts
for half the cost of medical check-up and drugs.
Supportive supervision and training on revenue targeting for the committee health
teams is among the ways used to improve this programme.
Community
Health Fund
311.
The
activities related to community Health Fund continued to be implemented
in the districts where training was conducted.
Major achievements have been attained as communities in the districts
practising the scheme have started reaping the fruits of the funds. There
are 53 districts practising the scheme, these are: Igunga, Nzega, Iramba, Singida, Iringa,
Kilosa, Hanang, Karatu, Sikonge, Urambo, Masasi, Mbinga, Songea urban,
Hai, Mbulu, Babati, Kiteto, Monduli, Mwanga, Ulanga, Kisarawe, Kondoa,
Simanjiro, Uyui, Mufindi, Same, Kasulu, Magu, Kigoma, Njombe, Sumbawanga,
Mtwara, Tunduru, Mpwapwa, Kilwa, Nachingwea, Dodoma, Manyoni, Lindi rural
Handeni, Muheza, Arumeru, Morogoro, Rufiji, Kibaha, Bagamoyo, Makete,
Newala, Bunda, Sengerema, Serengeti and Lushoto.
Health Insurance
312. Civil Servants who have joined the insurance started to get services in October 2001. Most of these joined in 2002 and identity cards have started being provided for these workers and their families. A total number of six family members are supposed to benefit from this scheme. These services are being provided by 2,937 government and 473 religious and non-governmental health facilities. Collection of members filled-in forms and provision of poor services by some of the health facilities are among the problems facing the scheme