Africa moves a step closer to polio eradication, but more work to be done – UN

Africa has made great strides towards eradicating polio but the job remains to be finished through strengthened immunization campaigns and surveillance measures, according to the United Nations.

Observing yesterday the one year mark since the last case of wild polio was confirmed on the African continent, the world body has recalled that despite such laudatory progress, the milestone could not yet be considered “official” by the Organization’s strict standards.

Nigeria, the last endemic country in the African region, marked one year without a case of wild polio on 24 July 2015. If continued lab results in the coming weeks confirm no new cases in Nigeria, and if the UN World Health Organization (WHO) African Region then goes two more years without a case of wild polio in the face of strong surveillance, it could be certified polio-free by the Africa Regional Certification Commission. Similarly, transmission in Kenya and Ethiopia has also been interrupted.

“Globally, we are on the verge of totally eradicating a disease for only the second time in history,” remarked Peter Crowley, the head of the UN Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Polio unit, on his blog. “As we approach the General Assembly’s endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals, what a wonderful time to be able to encourage the global community to set ambitious goals and to know that such goals can be met – if we believe.”

According to the UN, African leadership has been instrumental in reaching the milestone and pushing towards wider eradication through the African "Kick Polio out of Africa" campaign. Likewise, the support of the international community has also been key to success and continued support remains essential to achieve a polio-free Africa through improved vaccination campaign quality and surveillance, particularly in the Horn and Central Africa.

“With Africa now on track, we are left with only two countries where polio transmission has never been interrupted: Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Mr. Crowley continued. “Here too, despite enormous challenges, communities, governments and partners are working with courage and determination to end polio once and for all.”

Polio is a virus transmitted by person-to-person contact and spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.

Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented by immunization.

If eradication in Africa is achieved, there would be only two countries where polio transmission has never been interrupted: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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Tanzania tops six countries in food surpluses

Tanzania has done a remarkable progress on food production which had put the country among the top three SADC member states with food surpluses that could be used in trading with the rest of countries within the region. 

 

The Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources  (FANR) for SADC, Margaret Nyirenda, revealed this yesterday when briefing journalists on the status of food security in the region, prior to the 35th heads of state and government in Gaborone, Botswana.

 

 Nyirenda noted that the other 11 SADC member states failed to access food surplus due to the impacts of climate change, drought and floods, and therefore insisting on the need  for its mitigation.

 

 Apart from Tanzania which had surpluses of 0.81 million metric tonnes, Nyirenda pointed out the other SADC member states were South Africa with 0.31 million metric tonnes as well as Zambia that holds 0.88 million metric tonnes.  

 

She noted that the situation could be used as an opportunity for Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia to trade on agricultural crops with other countries within the SADC regional integration. 

 

Nyirenda said the SADC was taking necessary measures to provide food and non-food reliefs to the 27.41 million vulnerable people within the entire region and support them to recover from the disasters. 

 

However she expressed that the SADC had promoted and scaled up appropriate climate smart technologies on agriculture, energy, water and other relevant areas which mitigate against the impact of climate change, hence improve food security in the region.

 

 Admittedly, the 2014/15 rain session was generally poor in most parts of the SADC region with prolonged drought spells in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Zimbawe, Madagascar, Malawi na Mozambique. 

 

According to Nyirenda, the poor rainfall would lead to an unsatisfactory overall regional food security in  2015/16 with general cereal deficit of 6.33 million tonnes compared to a surplus of 1.2 million tonnes in 2014/15.

 

 The availability of cereals which comprise  maize, wheat, rice, millet and sorghum within the region was estimated at 40.23 million tonnes, representing a drop of 22per cent from 45.62 million tonnes last year. She emphasized that this year’s availability of maize which usually makes up more than 75 per cent of total cereals production was forecasted at 31.73 million tonnes compared to the last year’s 36.79 million tonnes.

 

 However, the cassava production within six SADC member states had dropped from 48.06million tonnes last year to the current 44.80 million tonnes.

Source: The Guardian

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Tanzania drops in prosperity ranking

Tanzanians are less prosperous than they were three years ago, a newly-released report shows.

The country has fallen eight places in the Africa Prosperity Index, dropping from 11th place in 2012 to 19th in the latest ranking that measures success beyond the traditional measures.

According to Legatum Institute’s research which studied 38 African countries, Tanzania is the only East African country to nosedive whereas neighbours Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have all gained. Rwanda climbed from 13th place in 2012 to eighth, Kenya from 17th to 13th and Uganda from 18th to 14th.

The drastic fall has come thanks to sorry average performance in eight specific areas studied, namely economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom and social capital.

The country has recorded the poorest in personal freedom category, where it fell from 24th in the last study to 28th. Its best performance posted is in social capital where it ranked ninth but was pulled down by lacklustre outcome in the remaining categories. In economy it ranked 11th, entrepreneurship and opportunity (19th), governance (16th), education (18th), health (18), safety and security (23rd).

Although Tanzania’s education score rose by one place in the ranking, the report authors maintained that the country needs to improve the quality of education in schools rather than focusing on enrollment rates alone.

“Tanzanian education is not producing graduates with the skills needed to work in the formal sector,” the report reads in part. “The lack of an adequately skilled workforce is a hindrance to investment in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, finance, and communications...Tanzania needs education that improves students’ chances of finding employment.”

The poor report card, especially in the area of education, stands in sharp contrast to progress story that is being reported in recent years. Last month, media outlets splashed a feel-good story about a sterling form six results where 98.87 per cent of candidates who sat their national examinations earlier in the year had passed. This was preceded by a 98.26 per cent pass rate the previous year.

While announcing the results in Zanzibar, National Examinations Council of Tanzania Executive Secretary Charles Msonde said the performance was an indication that the education sector was set to record impressive achievements under the Big Results Now (BRN) initiative.

“If Tanzania is to accelerate development, to take advantage of globalisation and of its membership of the East African community, its human resources must be competitive. That means giving its young the knowledge, skills, and capabilities demanded by a 21st-century global labour market,” the study recommends.

Overall, Rwanda has emerged the best improver, gaining five ranking places to end up as the eighth most prosperous country in Africa. The country was found to have the sixth highest ranking in regulation and government effectiveness, the eighth highest score in rule of law and the lowest perceptions of corruption in Africa. It is the only East African country to have made it in the coveted Top Ten. Others are South Africa (second), Morocco (third), Namibia (fourth), Tunisia (fifth), Algeria (sixth), Ghana (seventh), Burkina Faso (ninth) and Senegal (tenth).

Source: the Citizen

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Dr Mengi is role model in Africa, say international academicians

Executive Chairman of IPP Dr Reginald Mengi. 

International academicians as well as human rights activists have described the Executive Chairman of IPP Dr Reginald Mengi as a role model among business people on the Africa continent.

They have mentioned him as a person who has used his achievements to serve the underprivileged groups in community, irrespective of irreligion and tribe.

The group selected Dr Mengi in Arusha yesterday after it was proved that he uses his success to serve the unprivileged groups who include people with albinism, irrespective of their religion and tribal groups.

Professor Perel Machel from Germany, leading academicians from USA, Israel, Germany, Mexico, China and Poland visiting various African countries, recognised Dr Mengi’s contribution.

The academicians are sensitising good governance, peace and protest against corruption and nepotism which is rampant in Africa.

Prof Machel said Dr Mengi, who is also Chairman of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), is a well known person in Europe, as well as the countries they visited visited for his commitment to fight poverty.

He said Dr Mengi is different from most other local rich people who want people to ‘worship’ them even though they hide millions of shillings in Switzerland, leaving majority of people with no help.

Dr Barrack Gibeel described Dr Mengi as ‘a light source of love in Africa for being the only African businessman who has set a day to stay with the poor and eat with them in the same bowl.’

Chairman of ethics committee on peace and human rights for Christian religious denominations in Tanzania Bishop William Mwamalanga said Dr Mengi loves everybody regardless of their age and has been on the forefront to defend Tanzania in all aspects of human dignity
Meanwhile, the academicians were concerned at the high rate of corruption within the country’s ruling party to the extent that they ‘hate one another,’ citing the incident in which National Assembly Deputy Speaker Job Ndungai recently knocked out a fellow contestant, who had to be hospitalised.

They stated that this was a bad omen for it would cause further deterioration of the traditional peace for which Tanzania is known the world over.

At the occasion, Sister Dr Abigaeli Azael from Israel, who first visited Tanzania in 1965, warned about corruption.  She said it was shaming the nation founded by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

Nyerere was the only Africa leader dedicated to fighting corruption and noted that that corruption malpractice has tarnished Tanzania’s name.

On the other hand, Prof Machel said it was better to call on people from outside CCM to screen contestants instead of leaving the job to themselves as “corruption has washed their eyes by 100 per cent.” 

“I have been in Tanzania since May 2015 and have toured Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Kigoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Tabora, Shinyanga, Mara, Coast, Morogoro and Dodoma regions.  I have seen for myself how corruption has ravaged people’s lives.” 

Dr Gibeel from USA mentioned corruption among the country’s leadership, saying it has become a source of hatred and appealed to religious leaders to condemn it when preaching.

The academicians visited 20 African countries and met religious leaders as well as human rights activists to see how they treated people in whatever assistances required of them.

The countries are Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Namibia, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Mali, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, Angola, Egypt, Lesotho, Somalia, Gambia and Rwanda.

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TZ literacy levels keep dropping

Twaweza Programe Officer, Richard Temu.

Despite efforts by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Authority research reports by education stakeholders still indicate a decline in literacy standards.

A new report by Uwezo at Twaweza launched last Wednesday at the National Museum hall titled ‘Are our Children Learning? Literacy and Numeracy in Tanzania’ shows that there are still too many challenges that affect the learning process in primary schools.

Commenting on the research findings education stakeholders have said that, it is time for everyone together to bring change.

The report was conducted in 2013 whereby Uwezo partners tested over 100,000 children, aged seven to 16, from 131 districts in all 25 regions in Tanzania.

It is expected that 100 per cent of children in Standard Three should be able to read basic English and Kiswahili and do simple Mathematics of Class Two level , a new report reveals that very few pupils are able to do that.

Presenting the findings Twaweza Programe Officer Richard Temu ,says that, in Kiswahili fewer than half of Standard Three children can read a Standard Two Kiswahili story. And four out of five children in Standard Seven can read a Standard Two Kiswahili story, meaning that 20 per cent of pupils complete Standard Seven without having mastered basic literacy skills in Kiswahili.

Talking about English language Temu says that, just two out of 10 pupils in Standard Three can read a Standard Two level English story. In Standard Seven, fewer than six out of 10 pupils can read a Standard Two English story. Almost half of Standard Seven pupils are illiterate in English, which is the language of instruction in secondary school.

Adding to that he said, just three out of 10 pupils in Standard Three can solve a Standard Two multiplication problem. By the time they reach Standard Seven, about three out of seven 10 cannot solve Standard Two multiplication.

Commenting on the report, Ezekiah Oluoch, the Secretary General of the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) says: “There is a lot that should be done to make sure education standards are improving but the government needs to be very careful with what they invest in Early Childhood Education given the fact that the budget is never enough as it caters for all ministries that will require trainings including lecturers’ scholarships.”

Adding to that he said, Tanzania only invests 1.4 of the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) towards the education sector. In order for a country to develop it needs to spend not less that 20 per cent of its budget to fully support basic education. And 5 per cent of its GDP should also go straight to basic education.

He further illustrated that, Kenya spends 7.5 per cent, Uganda 4.8 per cent and Burundi 3.2. Tanzania should expect a lot more of such reports if partners in the education failed to play their part.

Aidan Eyakuze, executive director of Twaweza East Africa, says that, none of the stakeholders will be happy with the research findings adding that it was the right time for everyone to join hands and help the nation’s children learn at their level.

“Parents, teachers, pupils, education stakeholders as well as the government should stand as one and make sure we do our part to support the education standards in the country,” says Eyakuze.

Part of the report reads that, more than nine out of 10 teachers (95 per cent) who were interviewed attained Form Four level of education and 86 per cent held a certificate, which is the minimum required qualification according to the Education Training Policy of 1995. When responding to questions soon after the report’s launch, Zaida Mgalla, manager at Uwezo asked if the invited guests from the ministry of Education attended the launch to respond to the questions that were to be answered by government officials, but none had attended.

Mgalla also commented on the fact that children who have mothers with formal education perform better: “Children in Standards Three and Four almost three out of four children whose mothers have post secondary education passed the Kiswahili test compared with less than four out of 10 children whose mothers had not attended school.”

Pupils whose mothers have post secondary education passed by 73 per cent, pupils whose mothers have primary/secondary education passed by 54 per cent and pupils whose mothers are not educated passed by 48 percent.

The report further shows that, teacher absenteeism reduces teaching contact hours which affects the learning process.

The survey found that, the average teacher attendance rate nationally was 75 per cent. In other words, one out of every four teachers was absent on the day of the Uwezo assessment.

Regions whose teachers seem to be more absent include Mwanza, Coast, Manyara, Rukwa, Morogoro, Mara, Shinyanga nad Mbeya. And regions whose teachers seem to attend classes are Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Kagera, Iringa Ruvuma, Tanga and Tabora.

Commenting on teachers’ absenteeism Mr Oluoch said that, some teachers leave school for further studies without formal acceptance by the head teachers after spending years at school without being considered for further education.

The Uwezo assessment concludes by stating that while most children are going to school, too many are not acquiring basic skills in numeracy and literacy. The data indicates that learning outcomes have not improved since 2010.

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Usaid grants $49m to health sector via results-based plan

US ambassador to Tanzania Mark B. Childress 

The US Agency for International Development (Usaid) has committed $49 million (Sh98 billion) grant to support the health sector in Tanzania through Results Based Financing (RBF) initiative.

Through a single donor trust fund administered by the World Bank, Tanzania will receive $49 million over the next five years, according to a statement sent to the media.

As a result of the grant the ministry of Finance has committed to increase its loan allocation to the health sector by an additional $100 million (Sh200 billion).

In response to the financial commitment from the government of Tanzania, US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Mark B. Childress, said he was optimistic that the initiative would boost the health sector.

“In alignment with Big Results Now, this initiative will strengthen the quality and sustainability of health services in Tanzania,” said Mr Childress.

The grant will support the Tanzanian government’s plans to increase access to high quality healthcare services, which includes rolling out a facility accreditation scheme, improving the distribution of skilled health workers to regions with critical shortages, and enhancing community-based health interventions.

The statement further noted that as part of the scheme, the Medical Stores Department would also receive performance-based payments to increase the availability of essential medicines.

Usaid will also support its partners to provide technical assistance at national, district, and facility levels, according to the statement.

Tanzania’s RBF initiative aims to improve the quality of primary healthcare services in Tanzania, with a focus on maternal, neonatal and child health services.

RBF priorities in achieving results, greater value for money, and efficiencies, will help secure Tanzania’s domestic resources and ensure long-term security in the country’s health sector.

By Citizen Reporter

 

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