• INTRODUCTION
  

His Excellency Former President of United Republic of Tanzania, Benjamin William Mkapa and

The programme aimed to increase equitable access of HIV/AIDS services to rural and hard to reach areas through recruitment and deployment of skilled health professionals that were provided fellowship. Fellows were being recruited on contractual basis by the Foundation to serve the underserved communities inorder to avail them quality health services especially HIV/AIDS services.

 WHAT IS RATIONALE FOR MKAPA FELLOWS PROGRAMME?

• The prevalence rate of HIV is at 5.7per cent , for women it’s slightly higher at 6.3 per cent
• 1.6million people are living with HIV and yet only 30 per cent of those in need of Anti-retroviral therapy can access the drug.
• Overall shortage of health professionals is at 68 per cent, with unequal distribution (1 Doctor serves 100,000 people in rural areas compared to 1 Doctor for 4,000 in urban areas)
• Only 42 per cent of women deliver in health facilities in rural Tanzania compared to 82 per cent in urban areas.
• Every year at least 8000 women die as a result of pregnancy related conditions and 32 newborns die out of 1000 live births.

Patients waiting for health services at Ruangwa District Hospital. Overall shortage of health professionals is at 68 percent.

  WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE IN PHASE 1 OF MKAPA FELLOWS PROGRAMME?

 The first phase of the programme ran between year 2006 to 2010, and was financially supported by the Royal Government of Norway and the Clinton Foundation.

• 99 health professionals (Fellows) including 19 Medical Doctors were recruited and deployed to work in 33 rural districts, which is 25 percent of all Tanzanian districts.
• Under contractual agreement, 90 per cent of recruited Fellows were retained in the programme, with 60 per cent of them permanently being employed in the Public/Government services.
• Fellows served more than 120 clinics that contributed to a 5 fold increase of HIV/AIDS clients being enrolled and started on HIV therapy;
• Experience from Fellows programme informed Government and partners on numerous areas for improvement of health workforce policies and guidelines, as well as leading to birth of new similar in-country initiatives;
• The Government recognized the programme as a hub that nurtures future health leaders; this led to 10 Fellows being appointed as district medical officers.

Mkapa Fellow Micheweni presenting health services plans to Stakeholders

  WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN PHASE 2 OF FELLOWS PROGRAMME?

The 5 year programme (2012 – 2016) is an extension of the first phase. The target is to reach 2.5 million Tanzanians living in rural, hard to reach areas within the next 5-year period by:

• Recruiting 180 health professionals inclusive of 45 Doctors that will save lives of pregnant mothers, newborns and People Living with HIV/AIDS;

Fellow and other health workers attending to a patient

•  Skills development (training, coaching and mentoring) of more than 1500 health professionals on the provision of quality HIV/AIDS care and treatment and preventing HIV transmission from infected mothers to a child and saving pregnant mothers and newborn lives
•  Rehabilitating/Constructing 30 operating theatres at primary health centre levels and furnishing them with medical equipment;
•  Reaching remote communities with mobile clinics and health education on Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS

More information about the Mkapa Fellows Programme Phase 2 , you may click here to read the concept. Further details on the operational approaches, programme management and monitoring and evaluation, click here. The programme is estimated to cost 16 billion Tanzanian Shillings (10 million US Dollars) for five years which is equivalent to Tshs. 6,000/= ($4) per Tanzanian to be reached by the project.

• WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN US:

We aspire to expand our partnership beyond Government and development partners within the country. We thus wish to establish new collaboration and mutual partnerships with the National and International Private sectors, Corporates and Individuals to support our home grown and signature programme of the Foundation; the Mkapa Fellows Programme.

To kick start our fundraising campaign, the Foundation hosted its first time annual Fundraising gala night on 1st June 2012, at the Hyatt Kilimanjaro Hotel Dar Es Salaam, which was graced by our President His. Excellency Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Joining him were our two former Heads of States H.E. Ali Hassan Mwinyi and H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa. The gala night brought together various Private sector and corporate executives, Diplomats, Development Missions and Individuals to pledge for their support towards this noble cause. Successfully the Foundation received a commitment of 3.2 billion Tanzanian shillings ( equivalent to 2 million US dollars).

The Foundation upholds high standards of good governance and accountability. Taking that into account, we will provide regular updates on progress made by the programme, in terms of results achieved and financial updates to all the contributors. Thank you for your cooperation and interest to partner with Mkapa Foundation. We believe together we can bring hope to rural Tanzanians - Play your part! For more details on how to donate please click here.