Dear Friends,Our Foundation has actively continued its contribution in advancing the health and well being of Tanzanians. As we commemorate our 40 months of existence, we have proudly been able to implement BMAF 5-years strategic plan (2008-2012) which focuses on improving human resource for health and HIV prevention, care and treatment whilst strengthening our institutional capacity.
We thus welcome each one of you to view our website for more detailed information about who we are, where we work, how we have been progressing as well as explore potential areas of partnership with the Mkapa Foundation.
Dear colleagues, Our Foundation have continued rolling over the implementation of the two famous innovative projects on Health workforce and HIV/AIDS, known as “Mkapa Fellows Programme” and the “Emergency Hiring Project (EHP)” .To ensure sustainability and being able to fill the huge gap of health workers in rural areas, this year our joint efforts with the Government of Tanzania proved fruitful and this facilitated streamlining of 39 Fellows and 81 EHP health staff into the Public service employment system which is 50.8% of the 231 retained health staff under the two programmes.
The process of joining the government employment system is optional and reasons for the health staff accepting and/or rejecting to join public service has been preliminary explored and the facts are being used by the central, district and partners including BMAF in strengthening health systems.
Furthermore on 31st June 2009, we reached the end of 3 years work contract of batch I Fellows, whether streamlined in public service or not; and this is after serving the rural areas for 3 years. Hence 24 Fellows have graduated from the programme. The graduated Fellows and those mainstreamed into the public service have automatically joined the Mkapa Fellows Alumni which was registered in May 2009 and is being coordinated by the Fellows representative with guidance from the Mkapa Foundation.
In filling the existing gaps of district leadership and management capacity, the Foundation provided leadership training to the Fellows which led to enhancing district health systems. Their contribution realized by the Government of Tanzania, led to the appointment of 8 Fellows (Medical Doctors) to hold the post of District Medical Officers in eight (8) rural districts of Tanzania. Other leadership roles held by various fellows is reflected in our website.
Both programmes of MFP and EHP have continued registering positive trends in the HIV and AIDS care and treatment services in the rural districts, with a notable 3-4 times increase of clients enrollment to the clinic and those who have started ART.
Dear Friends,
In its endeavor to accelerate the implementation of National HRH Strategic Plan, our Foundation is collaborating with Intrahealth International in implementing a new initiative known as the “Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project”. The initiative which is in its final stage of planning, is a 4-year project (2009 – 2013), financially supported by USAID and its uniqueness lies in bringing forth a coalition of local partners who have comparative advantages on HRH matters within the public and private sector. The Mkapa Foundation plays an active role as the chair of the partner’s coalition, supporting the MOHSW Health Workforce secretariat and strengthening the districts in Human Resource Management capacity. For further details on the project, we welcome you to visit our website.
In the same spirit of partnership, our collaboration with the Central level of the MOHSW and PMORALG has continued via being an active member of the HRH Technical Working group whereby, coordination of partners supporting the HRH has progressed positively including our contribution in development of the structure, roles and responsibilities of the National Health Workforce initiatives. This is a body which will enhance coordination of all partners supporting the country in Health workforce matters.
As we continue implementing the BMAF strategic area of improving Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, we took off in March 2009 with a project known as “Saving Lives of Mothers and Infants” that aims at improving Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) at rural health centres in Singida rural and Iramba districts. In a participatory manner, district needs assessment and project planning has been accomplished, whilst health workers from two rural health centers have received EMOC training. Furthermore, the process of equipping and renovating the infrastructure of the maternity wards, is in its final stage with anticipation of having better service delivery to pregnant mothers in need of normal and emergency care.
Dear Friends, As we progresses in strengthening our governance structure, this year we reviewed our Trust Deed to align it with the approved BMAF policies, regulations and guidelines. The review accommodated the changes in the structure and modus operandi of Trustees and Board of Directors.
The first team of BMAF’s Board of Directors ended their three (3) years of tenure of office in early 2009 leading to appointment of seven (7) new Board of Directors which were officially inaugurated on 4th September 2009 by the Settler of the Foundation, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa.
We wish to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the exemplary contribution made by the outgoing Board of Directors that provided excellent leadership and guidance to the BMAF team, whereby jointly we managed to walk from our conception, neonatal stage, infancy to toddler stage. We believe the coming in of the new board of directors will accelerate the positives made by the past Board and assist the Foundation in its sustainability.
Once again the Foundation through the external auditing by the Controller and Auditor General office, received a clean audit report for the Financial year 2007/8. Further information on the financial statement is reflected in our website. As for the FY 2008/9, we are currently being audited by the same and we shall be pleased to share with you our final financial statements soon.
Our dear friends, All the above mentioned successes have been made possible through the generous financial support from the Norwegian Government, the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and the World Lung Foundation.
We further appreciate the support rendered by the Mkapa Foundation Governing body including the Foundation’s Settler, Trustees and the Mkapa Foundation entire staff for the endless commitment shown in advancing BMAF vision and mission.
Many thanks to our Government partners continue playing active role in embracing the unique partnership with Mkapa Foundation in a public – private mode, with aim of advancing the national and MDG goals.
Dear Colleagues,As we approach the end of year 2009, we will actively and smoothly phase out the two HRH programme that winding up during the end of 2010, with much emphasis on evaluating the project impacts and documenting the lessons learnt. The Foundation jointly with Government of Tanzania will further facilitate those health staffs that are keen to join the public service employment system.
As we plan to hold our Annual Stakeholders meeting in November 2009 this will involve official launching of the Mkapa Fellows Alumni and hold a graduation ceremony for the first batch of Fellows who graduated from the programme end of June 2009.
In addition, as from October 2009 onwards we intend to launch the new initiative of THRP which is among the National Health Workforce Initiatives that is contributing to Health Sector Strategic Plan III and National HRH Strategic Plan.
We have further dedicated ourselves making BMAF Strategic plan more operational through creation of new initiatives and/or extension of existing programme(s) based on lessons learnt and success stories of the current programmes. This shall be made possible through active resource mobilization from local and international partners including the private sector with focus on strengthening Health Workforce in rural underserved area and policy improvement.
We at BMAF believe that with the support and understanding of our stakeholders, we are confident to be on the verge of even greater accomplishments in the years ahead. Hence please join us in our efforts of making a difference and bringing hope to many rural Tanzanians!
Dr. Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro
September 2009