Saturday, September 26, 2015

Govt earmarks 3bn/- seed money for Aids trust fund

The government has set aside a total of Sh3bn for the establishment of an AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) as earlier proposed by Parliament aimed at reducing dependency on donor aid.
 The fund basically aims at increasing country‘s domestic resource allocation to the national HIV and AIDS response.   The decision to establish the fund was proposed in the last parliament where MPs underscored the importance for the country to build its capacity to serve its HIV patients instead of depending solely on donor aid.  In an interview with The Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Director for Finance and Administration, Yassin Abbas, said the process for establishment of the fund had started under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with TACAIDS. “When the fund will be in operation, 50 per cent of the funds will be allocated to medication,” Abbas noted.   “We are now at the stage of forming a board of trustees which will be composed of eight members, four from the government and the other four from the private sector, along with coming up with guidelines which will oversee the operation of the fund,” he said.  
According to him, it was no longer certain to obtain funds from donors for HIV/AIDS prevalence because its prevalance in the country had decreased to a large extent and hence it was no longer a priority for their funding.    “Therefore, we can no longer depend on their support as it was not guaranteed,” said the director. “The government is not ready to see its citizens suffer from HIV/AIDS due to lack of funds to purchase medicines. We will make sure we are able to serve our people,” Abbas maintained. He added that the government, the private sector and individuals would be major contributors to the fund under a mechanism to be established soon.  Among other thing, the fund will focus on impact mitigation for both children and women to ensure that effective medication is constantlly available to them.  Abbas also assured the public that, there would be no shortage of ARVs for patients as the Global Fund (GF) was still supplying the medicines to Tanzania. “The government always renews the contract with GF after every two years for them to proceed rendering the services to us, hence we are sure that the society should not fear for their heath,” the Tacaids official said.  Abbasi noted that they planned to conduct a fund-raiser that will include stakeholders from private sector, GF and Tacaids, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the government. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Germany grants $34m for EAC health plans

The Federal Republic of Germany has inked an intergovernmental agreement with the East African Community (EAC) to support regional health programmes.

In total, euro 30m ($34m) will be invested in vaccines and the health supply chain management.

Speaking at the signing event mid this week in Arusha, Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary-General of the EAC and member of the intergovernmental alliance for immunisation (GAVI) board welcomed the contribution, saying it was timely and needed.
 “We are very happy with new and existing projects that are being financed by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany,” he said.

“This assistance for the health sector in the EAC reaffirms Germany’s status as a true friend of the people of East Africa,” he declared.
In his comments, German Ambassador Egon Kochanke said this new commitment underlines Germany’s commitment to supporting Tanzania and the rest of the EAC.

“Germany continues to be a strong partner for the EAC, contributing to an integration process that puts the people in the centre," the envoy said.

Accompanying Amb. Kochanke were Lena Thiede, Counsellor/Head of Regional Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Katrin Brandes of KFW, a development bank and Bernd Multhaup, Programme Manager for GIZ, an international development agency.

Others at the function were EAC Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure) Dr. Enos Bukuku, Lake Victoria Basin Commission Deputy Executive Secretary Patrice Niyongabo, Counsel to the Community, Dr. Albert Kafumbe, and the GAVI Special Adviser to the EAC Secretary General, Stephen Karengera.

In the contribution, German Development Cooperation will provide 20 million euros for the procurement of vaccines against different diseases affecting children in the EAC zone.

The programme will be implemented in collaboration with GAVI. This new commitment will bring Germany`s contribution to regional immunisation programmes with the EAC to 60 million euros since 2012.
Earlier in 2015, Germany hosted the record replenishment of the global vaccination alliance GAVI. As a result, an additional 300 million children will receive live-saving vaccines, including in the EAC.

Inappropriate cooling systems result in high volumes of vaccines being wasted before they reach the people that need them, a dilemma to be addressed by a grant of 10 million euros to support the establishment of the EAC regional centre of excellence for health supply chain management.

The centre, slated for Kigali, will strengthen capacities and support the management of complex supply systems for health products, such as vaccines that need to be kept cold at all times.

GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.GAVI brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organisations.

Since 1998, Germany development cooperation contributes to the capacity development of the Secretariat of the EAC and regional integration in East Africa through a variety of programmes and projects. Germany's funding for technical and financial cooperation with the EAC has totalled about 176 million euros. It similarly provides substantial support for health sectors in EAC member states.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Friday, September 11, 2015

People with disabilities decry ‘inequality’ on election issues


Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairman Ernest Kimaya.

The federation of people with disabilities has voiced concern over lack of equality for persons with disabilities in the ongoing political elections calling on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to ensure availability of tactile ballots during the October polls.
 
Notably, since the introduction of multiparty elections in 1995, people with disabilities, notably the blind, were only assisted by their helpers, increasing risk of cheating in the voting due to lack of tactile ballot at polling centres.
 
Addressing an ongoing workshop organised by the Foundation for Civil Societies in Tanzania yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Felician Mkude, secretary general of Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (Shivyawata), lauded NEC for expressing interest to introduce tactile ballot for the first time in history.
 
He said the initiative would allow the underprivileged to exercise their constitution rights and increase  their participation in political elections.
 
“It’s good that NEC has accepted our proposal for ensuring we allocate tactile ballot at polling centres for the person with disabilities,” he said.
 
The workshop brought about representatives from various dignitaries to provide a platform for information sharing and discussion of issues with vital importance to the political and elections rights to persons with disabilities.
 
“Its in our expectations that NEC shall issue sample tactile ballot before end of this month,” Mkude said at the workshop Wednesday.
 
He went on to highlight that the commission will also release sign language interpreters at election centres for deaf people.
 
Currently they are collaborating with NEC find out which areas have deaf and blind people. The data will be helpful for the group during the October polls.
 
Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairman Ernest Kimaya, was of the view that: “currently there is no such budget since during the just ended national budget debate the matter was not highlighted.”
 
He said “we need tactile ballot and sign language experts and should not be compromised in any way with budget deficit.”
 
He said the government should consider it as a matter of urgency, thus it must look for money for enabling free and fair elections.
 
Executive director of the Foundation for Civil Society, Francis Kiwanga, noted that due to previous efforts, including civic education and introduction of persons with disabilities Act, this year will see an increased participation of the group in the elections.
 
Government figures show that people with disabilities account for six per cent of total population of about 45 million people. According to data collected in 2004, there are about 350,000 blind people in the country.
 
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Govt urged to subsidise nursing training fees

In order to increase the number of health workers the government has been advised to subsidise nursing and midwifery training colleges owned by individuals so they would have more students.
 
The advice was made by the Acting Head of Massana College of Nursing and Midwifery, Horeselina Magesa, during the eighth graduation ceremony for  diploma certificate holders and that of the third certificate of nursing and midwifery graduates in Dar es Salaam last weekend.  
 
He said once private colleges receive subsidies from the government the number of students would increase as studies could be offered at affordable fees. This is because at present only colleges owned by the government and religious sects get subsidies, he said.
For his part, the Director of the College, Prof Richard Lema, said most students fail to join colleges as they lack funds for paying fees. 
 
“With the small number of students we experience difficulties in expanding and running the college…funds from the central government would help us enroll many students and improve service provision,” he said.
 
However, he said the new entrance qualifications announced by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have resulted in students decreasing in number. He said previously the college used to enroll students according to qualifications it has set.
 
Nine students graduated with diploma certificates in nursing and midwifery taking three years. Other 59 got certificates in nursing and midwifery.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Acacia gold mine funds project for free mobile medical clinic in Mara


Acacia gold mine of the North Mara has funded a project aimed at providing free mobile medical clinic to women and children from eleven villages surrounding the mining area.

The gold mine has teamed up with the Mara Regional Hospital, Marie Stopes Tanzania and Medical Women Association of Tanzania (MEWATA) and other professional medical practitioners that will provide free medical check-ups mainly to rural women as the investors cooperate social responsibilities to her neighbours.

Speaking yesterday to inaugurate the project here acting Mara regional medical officer, Dr  Omary Gamuya said last year 1000 women were diagnosed with advanced symptoms of cervical cancer and said most cases went unreported thus a call for urgent measures to curb the situation.

He said they have teamed up with other stakeholders to provide free medical check-ups in the villages surrounding the mine and expressed gratitude to the mining company for providing over 200m/- this year to fund the initial stages of the project.

 Other non-communicable diseases that will be encountered during the first week of the implementation include diabetes, eye-operation, mouth impairment and HIV/AIDS and also counseling.

''In some male dominated culture most fathers are ignorant to keep a close supervision of their spouses during and after pregnancies and as a result the non-communicable diseases are not diagnosed at initial stages to be treated as early as possible'', he said.

MEWATA lake zone chairman, Dr Rehema Yona said the institution has also started other similar projects in Mwanza, Shinyanga and Geita in collaboration with Acacia company aimed at supporting most vulnerable patients who cannot easily access better distant clinics.

She said good quality health services can be reached by starting with mobile clinics due to the recent experienced medical and drug scarcity in public health centres and asked other stakeholders to follow suit.

Acacia mine manager Garry Chapman said the mine has an obligation to return back investment in the fields of education and health to help local communities get better social services. He said their utmost vision is to attain a win-win situation between the mine and local people to help them feel the fruits of investment that can easily be brought back through their basic social needs and  health being the priority.

Source: Guardian

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Civil society must be ‘equal partners’ in implementing UN sustainability agenda, Ban tells parliamentarians


With speakers of parliament meeting at United Nations Headquarters at a moment when the world is gripped by multiple crises – displacement has soared to all-time highs and the threat of climate change grows by the day – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the legislators to help drive forward the new UN sustainable development agenda and ensure that civil society are equal partners in “building the future we want.”
“We are being challenged to strengthen our collective resolve to promote peace and security, sustainable development and human rights around the world,” said Mr. Ban, telling the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament that, earlier this month, UN Member States took a bold step in this direction by concluding negotiations on the “ambitious and transformative” agenda for the next 15 years.
The global parliamentary summit is held every five years. The current meeting will run through 2 September in New York and today’s opening session features addresses from Mr. Ban, IPU President Saber Chowdhury, UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation Forest Whitaker.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that form the basis of the new UN agenda are people-centred and planet-sensitive. They provide a plan of action for ending poverty and hunger, and a roadmap for building a life of dignity for all and they promise to “leave no one behind.”
Commending the parliamentarians of the world, and the IPU, for the valuable role they played in shaping the new framework, Mr. Ban underscored that their contribution to its implementation will be equally critical in ensuring that the agenda is translated from the global to the national.
“People will look to you to hold your governments accountable for achieving the goals, and to write the laws and invest in the programmes that will make them a reality,” he said, noting that while democratic principles also run through the entire document “like a silver thread,” Sustainable Development Goal 16 addresses democracy by calling for inclusive and participatory societies and institutions.
At the same time, the UN chief said the task of implementing and monitoring these goals is huge. It requires States to work in strong and close partnership with civil society of all stripes. This has never been more important.
And yet, for civil society, freedom to operate is diminishing – or even disappearing. Dozens of Governments have adopted restrictions that limit the ability of NGOs [non-governmental organizations] to work, or to receive funding, or both.
“As we embark on this new agenda, the State and civil society can and should be partners in building the future we want,” he said, emphasizing that the declaration the parliamentarians will adopt at the conference outlines their responsibilities in translating the voices of the people into meaningful action.
For his part, General Assembly President Kutesa said given their role as pillars of democratic governance, parliaments will have an important role in the implementation of the new development agenda.
“Parliamentarians should continue to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and included in the development process. This will enhance ownership of the new agenda and its implementation on the ground, which will be vital for its success,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kutesa said, it will be essential to carry forward the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have been incorporated in the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs. In particular, greater attention will be needed in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, and creation of employment, among others.
Parliamentarians will be essential to that effort, the Assembly President said, also spotlighting the critical role they must play in the protection and preservation of the environment, including through enacting appropriate legislation.
“As we work toward reaching a new, universally-binding climate change agreement at the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 21) in Paris this December, bold commitments that will protect our planet for generations to come are needed,” said Mr. Kutesa, stressing that parliamentarians and other stakeholders should remain actively engaged in collective efforts towards this noble goal.

Cybercrime law takes effect


Prof Makame Mbarawa, Communication, Science and Technology minister.

The Cybercrime Bill President Jakaya Kikwete assented to in April comes into effect today.
 
The government has said the timing of the enactment and application of the much-contested piece of legislation is well-intended and not meant to interfere with the run-up to the October 25 General Election.
 
Tanzania is not the first country to have a cybercrime law, but media stakeholders, activists and donors say it will infringe on the freedom of the press and expression.
 
However, the government maintains that the Act will help address new forms of crime not covered under existing laws.
According to the government, the Cybercrimes and Electronic Transactions Acts will not infringe on democracy and the freedom of people to access information.
 
Addressing journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam Communication, Science and Technology minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said the government has completed “essential preparations”, including providing civic education and capacity building to the law enforcers, ready for the two laws to take effect.
 
He said the law on cybercrime had nothing to do with elections, adding: “It was just the timing of the enactment and application of the Act. The Act is well-intended and is not meant to interfere with the October 25 General Election.” 
 
“I would like to call upon the citizenry to consider the correct and safe use of communication and computer network services for individual benefits and national development. The proper use of the networks has a number of profits to the public,” he said.
 
Prof Mbarawa said the two Acts were relevant and useful to the public, “especially at this time when cybercrime is on increase”, noting that the absence of cybercrime and electronic transaction laws “has made people face difficulties, especially when they are victims of cybercrimes”.
 
“The Cybercrime Act makes provisions for criminalising offences related to computer systems and information communication technologies; to provide for investigation, collection and use of electronic evidence and for matters related therewith,” said the minister.
 
Section 16  state, in part: “Any person who publishes information or data presented in a picture, text, symbol or any other form in a computer system knowing that such information or data is false, deceptive, misleading or inaccurate, and with intent to mislead the public or counselling commission of an offence; commits an offence.”
 
Section 11(1), on computer-related forgery, meanwhile states: “A person shall not intentionally and unlawfully input, alter, delay transmission or delete computer data, resulting in unauthentic data, with the intent that it be acted upon as if it were authentic, regardless of whether or not the data is readable or intelligible.”
 
Under sub-section (2), a person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than 20 million/- or three times the value of undue advantage received, whichever is greater, or to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years or to both.
 
Section 20 (1), on unsolicited messages, stipulates: “A person shall not with intent to commit an offence under this Act (a) initiate the transmission of unsolicited messages.”
 
Sub-section (3): “For the purpose of this section, ‘unsolicited messages’ means any electronic message which is not solicited by the recipient and, shall on conviction be liable to a fine of not less than five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years or to both.” 
 
Meanwhile, the Electronic Transactions Act provides for the legal recognition of electronic transactions, e-Government services, the use of Information and Communication Technologies in collection of evidence, admissibility of electronic evidence, to provide for the facilitation of use secure electronic signatures, and to provide for other related matters. 
 
In April, after the National Assembly has passed it, the respective bill came under scathing criticism particularly from human rights activists. They said it violated freedom of the press, expression and the right to access information as provided for under Article 18 of the Tanzanian Constitution of 1977.
 
The activists threatened to demand that courts of law intervene by examining and adjudicating on the legality and constitutionality of both the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 and the Statistics Act, 2013.
 
President Kikwete has since said the law would be amended to accommodate stakeholders’ concerns and that, until such time that it is amended, Internet users must observe it to the letter.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN