Based on the Mkapa Fellows Programme experience, the Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation is providing technical and management support to the Emergency Hiring Project of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
The EHP project has two programme approach which include:
- Recruitment and retention of health workers on three years contract that are deployed to serve 19 hard toreach districts in the country.
- Strengthen the district operational environment as a retention strategy for new and existing health staff.
The rationale for EHP:
- Even with the increased salary and budget for recruiting health staff allocated by the MOF in FY06/07, remote/underserved districts are not able to attract and retain staff.
- EHP is an innovation, testing the following:
- Putting health staff on 3 years contractual basis in remote areas
- Having an attractive incentive package retains health staff in remote areas
- Contractual staff can be absorbed in the routine Government system, at end of contract
The project has recruited 176 health workers that have been placed in 19 hard to reach districts in August 2007. Selection of the types of cadres took into cognizant the district HRH needs. The Health workers have signed a three years contract with the MOHSW and Local Government Authorities. Health cadres recruited include Medical officers, Assistant Medical Officers, Clinical officers, Nursing officers, Enrolled nurses, Laboratory technologists, Lab technicians, Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical tech and Social welfare officers.
To ensure ownership and clarity on roles and responsibilities, the EHP new hires jointly received orientation of the project and Government structures and systems functioning in a one day forum together with the Regional and District authorities. This was followed by the new hires being trained on HIV/AIDS clinical care and treatment at the National Zonal Training Centres by using the National curriculum.
The project being comprehensive in nature is bringing in other partners:
- The Prime Ministers Office, Regional Administration and Local Government is the co-leading Ministry that links the EHP with the HRH planning, implementation and monitoring in the Local Government Authorities.
- The Capacity Project through support from the USAID is taking lead role in supporting the second prong of the project which entails improving the operational environment of the EHP districts and support of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project.
- National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) is supporting the operational research in HRH
The remuneration package of the new hires include the following:
| Non Monetary incentives | Monetary incentives |
| Induction course of comprehensive HIV/AIDS management Job guarantee for 3 years Possibility of being integrated into the Government payroll at end of 3 yrs contract Issuance of Certificate of Service on successful completion of three years of service
| Enhanced Basic salary Housing allowance 10% of the enhanced basic salary. Installation grant: consist of Subsistence, Luggage & transport allowances. National Social Security Fund: 20% of gross package contributed by the employer. Performance Gratuity: 5% of the 3 years basic salary, paid at the end of the 3 years contracts. |
Achievements
