The Benjamin Mkapa HIV/ AIDS Foundation (BMAF) has earned praise from the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, for fast-tracking recruitment and deployment of over 600 health workers to remote parts of Tanzania since its inception seven years ago.
Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda
“It is through this creativity that we now realise that it is possible to deploy and retain skilled health professionals in remote areas,” the premier said at the two-day Third Stakeholders Meeting of the BMAF that started in Dar es Salaam.
Under the initiative, medical professionals are posted to remote areas through defined contract periods with the BMAF. They are then mainstreamed into the government employment systems at the end of their contracts with the foundation.
“I thus hereby direct the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as well as President’s Office (Public Service Management) to continue facilitating this complementarily-innovative modality carried by the foundation to minimise the shortage of health workforce,” the PM said.
He further commended the foundation for the ‘’brave move to reinforce HIV/AIDS and other health services through its unique approach of using human resources for health as an entry point.’’ Mr Pinda noted that health facilities in the country were being operated with only 47 per cent of the required health workforce.
‘’It is thus imperative that we would need innovative partnerships to address the existing human resource allay the health crisis. “The effective way to overcome this crisis is for the government and its partners to continue putting up deliberate efforts and resources to increase the training of health personnel and to reinforce the policies and systems of recruitment, deployment and retention,” he noted.
Between 2006 and 2007, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare posted 23,312 health workers out of 40,364 that were approved for recruitment by the President’s Office, Public Service Management. Speaking at the occasion, the Settler of BMAF, former President William Mkapa said the achievements registered by the foundation would have not been feasible if it was not for the facilitative environment rendered by the government.
“My main vision was to have an institution which will complement and not compete and which will supplement and not duplicate government efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS as well as addressing other health challenges, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” Mr Mkapa said.
Mr Mkapa is today expected to present a paper on public-private partnership in the health sector. The theme for the stakeholders meeting is: “Together: Inspiring change for equitable and better health services.’’
By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News
