The Emergency Hiring Project (EHP) is an innovative programme of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare financially supported by the Global Funds to fight HV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) that aims to contribute to the national acceleration of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment through strengthening the Human Resources for Health (HRH).  | EHP Hire in Kilosa District Hospital examines a young boy to determine HIV status |
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 prongramme approach which include: 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. | EHP hire assessing a pregnant mother in Bagamoyo District Hospital |
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 -A total of 176 health workers have been recruited and posted to 19 districts. The process took two major steps of deploying 121 staff in July -August 2007 followed by deployment of remaining 55 hires to the field in early November 2007. Among 176 hires posted in districts, 100% successfully reported. However to date, 169 (96%) are still in their working stations due to 7 drop outs.
-The Foundation in collaboration with the MOHSW and Regional level conducted field visit in December 2007 to 9 districts that benefit from Mkapa Fellows Programme and EHP.
-In collaboration with Capacity Project and MOHSW, all 19 EHP districts were trained on HRH management by using developed HRH Management tool kit; followed by development of action plans. Furthermore, 5 districts namely Kishapu, Nzega, Namtumbo, Ngorongoro and Ileje will receive district grants from Capacity project/USAID aiming at strengthening HRH planning and management at district level.
-By 15th December 2007, clients enrolled on care and treatment within the country were 247,594 (adult- 225,945; children 21,649); whereby 19,255 (7.8%) clients are served in 19 EHP districts and 13,555 (5.5%) clients were served in MFP 23 districts.  | | Mr. Msangi, Pharmacist under EHP project in Kilosa District Hospital giving out medications to a client |
-Of those enrolled, a total of 128,044 clients have been started on ARTs (adults 117,216, children 10,828) nationally. Of these, 8,020 (6.26%) are from EHP districts and 6,377 (5%) are from MFP 23 districts. Generally the trend of clients enrolment and started on ART has been increasing tremendously after the arrival of new staff deployed under the two programmes EHP and MFP.
For further information on the project, please contact the Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation.
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