Tanzania’s Community Health Plan Requires $360 Million for Expansion

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Friday, October 11, 2024. Tanzania’s ambitious five-year Integrated and Coordinated Community Health Workers (iCCHW) program requires $360 million to achieve its goals, with $40 million allocated for the first year alone. The initiative, set to run from 2024 to 2028, aims to improve universal health coverage and reduce preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030.

The financial needs of the program were revealed during a workshop held by the Africa CDC, in collaboration with key donors and partners, from September 2–6, 2024, in Dar es Salaam. The workshop was instrumental in developing Tanzania's Community Health Acceleration Plan, with input from both the Ministries of Health of Tanzania and Zanzibar.

According to Dr. James Matthew Guwani, head of the Africa CDC's Community Health Division, the iCCHW program is designed to enhance access to life-saving health interventions across the country. It will scale up community health workers (CHWs) to expand coverage and strengthen the healthcare system. 

The plan covers mainland Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar and aligns with the government's vision for a healthier population, including improved maternal and child health, nutrition and sanitation. A critical part of the initiative will involve the deployment of over 137,000 CHWs across 4,263 Mitaa (urban administrative areas) and 64,384 Hamlets (rural communities). 

Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director of Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health Tanzania, emphasized that CHWs play a vital role in achieving the country’s healthcare goals. He highlighted the need for comprehensive health financing and effective integration of CHWs to reach universal health coverage, which currently falls below 66%. 

"To sustain this momentum, we must secure funding through advocacy and learn from successful models, particularly from Zanzibar," Dr. Ntuli said. He noted that a disease-focused approach is insufficient, advocating instead for a system-focused strategy to ensure sustainability and avoid fragmentation. Dr. Barnabas Kwame Yeboah, a community health expert at the Africa CDC, echoed the need for sustainable funding and political commitment. "Institutionalizing and integrating community health programs is crucial for long-term success," he stressed.

Key recommendations from the workshop included hosting high-level advocacy meetings with government officials and funding agencies to mobilize resources for the Community Health Acceleration Plan. Additionally, an investment case will be developed to guide resource mobilization and ensure a coordinated approach. 

The first phase of the iCCHW program will focus on training and deploying 28,000 CHWs in ten priority regions, with a revised curriculum to support these efforts. Zanzibar, which has already made significant progress, aims to train and deploy 3,000 CHWs by 2025. These workers will receive necessary kits before graduation to support their efforts in providing essential health services.

Dr. Salim Slim, Director of Preventive Services and Health Education in Zanzibar, underscored the importance of CHWs, especially in addressing the healthcare worker shortage in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. He praised their role in advancing antenatal care and controlling disease outbreaks, such as measles. 

"Community Health Workers have been key to Zanzibar’s success in eliminating measles," Dr. Slim said. "They are vital to our health system, and each CHW is equipped to serve 100 community members."

Zanzibar’s government recently launched a six-month program to recruit, train and deploy 3,000 CHWs. Dr. Slim appealed to partners to provide the necessary funding and resources, including CHW deployment kits, before the first cohort graduates. The workshop saw participation from 76 stakeholders, including Africa CDC staff, health ministry officials, and representatives from 12 donor and implementing partners. This gathering follows the Africa CDC-UNICEF country consultation held in May in Addis Ababa, where African leaders committed to recruiting, training and deploying 2 million CHWs across the continent by 2030.

Source: Africa CDC

Published: October 11, 2024

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