The New Strategy: 2011 - 2015
Mkapa fellows contribute to tackling the HIV/AIDS challenge and prevent maternal and newborn deaths to achieve:-
- MDG Goal 6: National target 1 of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
- MDG Goal 5: National target 6 of halving the current maternal mortality rate of 454 per 100,000 births.
- MDG Goal 4: Reduce by 2/3 the mortality rate among children under 5 of 81 per 1000 live births.
- Recruit 150 skilled health professionals to work in 15 rural and hard to reach districts and later streamline them in public service.
- CTC and PMTCT services initiated in Primary health care sites increased by 50 percent in 15 rural districts.
- 30 Health Centres within 15 districts provide Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC).
Mkapa Fellows Programme is an innovative programme jointly initiated by the Former Presidents of the United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America, His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa and His Excellency William Jefferson Clinton, respectively.
The programme through financial support from the Government of Norway and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) is dedicated to address the gaps in human resource for health sector which is key in scaling up HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment. Purpose of the Programme is to recruit, train, deploy and retain skilled professionals to support the aggressive implementation of Tanzania response to HIV/AIDS, including but not limited to the National Care and Treatment Program.
Programme Vision: visualizes Tanzania as a country with universal access to quality care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS
Programme Mission:To have adequate, competent and skilled personnel, highly dedicated and motivated to work in health facilities of all levels in rural and urban areas.
Programme Implementation
The three years program has recruited 99 Fellows who are serving in the 33 hard to reach districts of rural Tanzania in strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. Each district received a team of three(3) Fellows of different health cadres namely, Medical Officers, Assistant Medical Officer, Nurses, Laboratory Technologist, Laboratory Technicians, Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Technicians.
The Fellows signed a three year contract with the Foundation and the respective Local Government Authorities.
Prior to the deployment of the Fellows into the districts, Fellows, District and Regional officials attended an orientation programme which, among other things, resulted into building a team spirit thus enhancing provision of quality and reliable health services to clients. Read more ...
