MWENYEKITI KATIKA PICHA NA WANAFUNZI WA SHULE YA SEKONDARI YA SUMAYE BUZIKU WILAYANI CHATO

Tunapenda kuwaalika ndugu jamaa na marafiki zetu wote kote nchini kuonesha upendo kwa vijana wetu wanaofanya vizuri kwa kuwazawadia chochote kwani kufanya hivyo kunaongeza hamasa miongoni mwao. Wanafunzi wanhitaji kutambuliwa ili waendelee kusoma kwa bidii. Unaweza kupitisha mchango au zawadi yako katika shirika letu nasi tutaufikisha kama ulivyo na utapata taarifa za mchango wako punde tunapopokea na kuufikisha mchango huo. 

BENEDICT BAGENI MWASOKWA

MWENYEKITI MTENDAJI

Kwa mawasiliano zaidi piga simu namba:

0757918700 au 0674827760

habari

UNA GROUP TANZANIA

Founded in 2004 by tree young arsts at vijana social hall-Dar Es Salaam,now is composed by more than 45 energetic and talanted people. In same year,UNA Started to nter into a competitive arts market producing a film"MWANAPANGO" and nine years later (in 2013) its drama "NUSURA" was aired at the Tanzania National TV station "TBC1" Of  which is viewed by over milions of people in the country and around the globe through decoders.

UNA has succesfully collaborated with several reputable organizations such as FEMINA,CEFA,BASATA,TBC,AMREF,TACAIDS,SIKIKA,TAMWA,TGNP, and Kinondoni Municipal Health Project.

Swowing up theircreativity,UNA GROUP TANZANIA is using theatre,film,acrobatics,tradition music and dance to reach their audience.

Our society is governed by a situation of socio – economic imbalance where only a few people be beneficiaries of the economic endowments while the majority languish in servitude and inextricable poverty. For the realization of social and economic progress UNA TZ (NGO), is established in order to contribute to the alleviation of poverty by promoting productive activities empowerment people at affordable ways by involving the majority of the disadvantaged persons, especially in the rural and per urban propinquities. It is a long shot, but not for people who are determined to see what exists on the other side of the tunnel.

Placement length will range from three week to two years.Our volunteering sectors including awareness raising, advocating for positive change, poverty reduction, Teaching and Education , running projects that range from leading Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS education programs to Environment conservation.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?

AVC welcomes local and international volunteers from most professional backgrounds, from health care to education, economics to community and social work. To volunteer with AVC as a trained professional you’ll need professional qualifications. As a general rule, the more experience may be added advantage. Requirements do vary, but you will typically need to pass a medical check and a criminal record check, to be aged above 18 years, and to be available for a placement that will last for the agreed time.Your placement will usually require you to share your knowledge with others. This means training and advising colleagues in order to provide a self-sustaining legacy that lasts long after your placement is over.

What do you want to Support us?

• Funds or Fundraising functions
• School books and other equipments, clothes and anything to support poor children and Orphans lives in rural communities.
• Office Equipments

AVC team thanks you for your consideration and assistance. If you have any question kindly please do not hesitate to contact us at : unagroup2011@yahoo.com

MISSION.

MOREPEO'S mission is to raise societal awareness and influence on older people’s needs, wants, rights and entitlements in Morogoro region through advocacy and lobbying.

VISION. 

MOREPEO has a vision of a Society in which all Older People and their dependants (OVC/MVC/PLWHA and disabled) live in a dignified, healthy, secure and improved quality of life.

A BRIEF REPORT ON SAWAKA DOCUMENTING BEST PRACTICES

Compiled by Joas M. Kaijage, Research Based Journalist

1.0: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sawaka is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in Kayanga, a sprawling township located in Karagwe District in the northwestern Tanzania’s region, Kagera. Dedicated to serving for the welfare of the elderly, SAWAKA has been fighting against discrimination of older people and all forms of difficulties endured by those living in desperate poverty conditions.

The 20-year-old organization started with barely 17 founder members in Karagwe but currently it has spread its wings in many parts within and beyond the District where it has over 7,000 members and 80 branches.

Since its inception way back in 1995, SAWAKA has ever strived to see a community without age discrimination, which protects and respects older people and other vulnerable groups such as orphaned children, widows and people with disabilities.

It is understood through various official reports including that of the National Bureau of Statistics 2002 that the number of orphans and children living in vulnerable conditions is increasing. The statistics indicate that Karagwe District alone was estimated to have 25, 326 older people (aged 60 years and above) of which 4,697 cared about 11,434 orphaned children. Karagwe District reports also indicate that four years later in 2006 there were about 14,000 orphans in the district out of whom 13,765 were living in desperate conditions. The number of orphans was increasing at the rate of 0.5 to 1.5 percent as per statistics recorded between 1988 and 2002 population census respectively.

In fostering realization of its great mission, the organization’s core interventions are mainly focusing on lobbying and advocacy as well as strengthening social and economic capacities of the older people in the district whose plight is exacerbated by burden of caring for vulnerable children. Literally, the approach used by SAWAKA to achieve its objectives is helping target beneficiaries to help others.

Some of the interventions that SAWAKA has implemented in the recent past include training sessions on the rights and entitlements of older people, support healthcare provision for older people and economic empowerment programmes through women’s headed village banking groups known as WORTH.

A group of women in Bwera, Igurwa ward, displays Identity Cards that introduce them for medical costs exemption at various health facilities in Karagwe District. IDs for Free Medical Services are being distributed to the elderly people through collaboration of Sawaka and the Health Department at Karagwe District Council.

The overall objective of SAWAKA various interventions was to see to it that through training and awareness raising sessions, older people, widows and women who care for most vulnerable children know their rights and how to pursue them.

The economic empowerment aspect was also among SAWAKA core objectives. Through income generating activities such as crop and animal husbandry, target beneficiaries were expected to earn income and reduce dependency.

It is interesting to note that SAWAKA latterly conducted the exercise to assess performance of these interventions and document the best practices for which a lot of information and testimonies have been collected and compiled in this report.

2.0: TOOLS, METHODOLOGY AND APPROACHES:

In close collaboration with SAWAKA officials, the documentation team identified sites to be visited and prepared a set of questions as guidance during field interviews with respondents. The formulation of questions considered relevant aspects of what implemented interventions were intended to achieve as stated in the background above.

The guiding questions for district officials and health workers sought to know how they were implementing the government policy guidelines on free medical services for older people.

The questions also revolved around how older people eligible for free medical services were being identified and the progress attained so far in distribution of the IDs identifying medical service recipients to health facilities.

From the older people, we wanted to know whether they were receiving free medical services and what were the challenges faced. The documentation team also wanted to know how older people perceived healthcare provision in the wake of acquiring IDs as compared to the situation before.

In WORTH groups the team wanted to know when they started, the aim and their main activities. For documenting best practices, the team also cited a few individuals in these groups and asked them to provide testimonies as credible evidence of how the intervention has contributed in changing their lives.

The team visited two WORTH groups in Chanika, Kituntu and Runyaga sites operating with support from SAWAKA. About 13 women in worth groups gave their testimonies to the documentation team. Visited sites also include Nyakabanga, Bwera, Igurwa and Iteera. Likewise, about 19 respondents spoke to the team including male and female older people who benefit from various interventions SAWAKA has implemented. These included older people who have received IDs for free medical services, recipient of SAWAKA soft loans and goats assistances. About 2 students, 1 teacher and 7 officials including 3 SAWAKA staff, 4 WORTH groups field facilitators and coordinators were also interviewed.

SAWAKA interventions include Income Generating Activities (IGAs). The team was interested to get success stories regarding change in the lives of people who received soft loans and goats.

For awareness and training sessions on the rights and entitlement of older people, the team interviewed especially female respondents pertaining to acquired knowledge on the advantages of writing wills and memory books.

It was also amazing to hear from the horse’s mouth regarding female student testimonies on improved academic performance after construction of a girls’ dormitory at Kayanga secondary school. Lastly but not least, the team interviewed SAWAKA officials on the organization’s vision, mission and future plans.

3.0: FINDINGS:

3.1: Major Implementation Results and Achievements: Outputs and Outcomes-Impacts.

i) Worth groups:

It is worth noting that WORTH groups are among SAWAKA’s great achievements worth their name. The groups are potential kind of innovation in empowering women both socially and economically. The intervention targets women including those caring for orphans and most vulnerable children. The women in these groups contribute the amount of 500/= each in compulsory monthly savings which have generated into significant loan producing village banks. Members in these groups are allowed to make additional remittances on voluntary basis. The amount collected from voluntary remittances is split among members at the end of each cycle. Caregivers use the money to put up small businesses which enable them to improve the care they provide to orphans and most vulnerable children. This includes providing scholastic materials and other basic needs to these kids. WORTH groups are also used as platforms for these women to discuss important issues such as parenting skills, literacy, care for their kids health development as well as supporting their children to avoid sexual exploitation and HIV.

ii) Testimonies:

A WORTH group worth its name

Restuta Nsubirwe is a married woman with 8 children. Three of her children are in different levels of secondary education, the first of whom is in form four. The remaining two children in secondary school are in form two and one respectively.

Despite being married, Restuta has no assistance at all from her husband in caring for these children. She all alone shoulders the responsibility of educating these children including two young kids who were in primary school. The husband cannot assist because of his worse predicament. He fell sick from a mental disease almost two years ago and the responsibilities of caring for the family was left in the hands of a desperate woman.

Due to the circumstances, getting the money she needed for household needs as well as footing school fees and other scholastic expenses for her children was a tall order for Restuta.

However, after several years of desperately fighting for the survival of her family, Restuta finally saw what she literally terms as the beckoning right hand of hope. She joined a WORTH group among 33 women in Chanika ward. The WORTH group she joined is called “Tushirikiane” a Swahili name which literally means lets team up and fight for our own development. Each of the members in this group including Restuta has an amazing story to tell about her humble beginning and successes attained after joining the group that was founded in 2011.

From the money she borrows in a group, Restuta was able to put up small businesses including sale of bananas. One of her son transports bunches of bananas on bicycle and sells them at Kayanga Township, almost 20 kms from their home village in Chanika. The distance is quite long and tedious but what they earn from this business is more rewarding. The business sustains the household revenue so that Restuta has now managed to take care of her family with considerably less hassle. Building a permanent shelter is the great achievement of all the advantages she has got upon joining the WORTH group worth its name. She says the family felt very uncomfortable staying in a poor hygiene ramshackle shelter. Before building a permanent shelter, there was the time they sought refuge in the neighbours houses due to rough weathers especially during rain seasons. For Restuta, staying in a permanent shelter is a credible evidence of the many advantages that you can hear from amazing testimonies by most women in WORTH groups.

Ms Mamelitha Martin of Igurwa is one of the beneficiaries of Sawaka income generating interventions targeting women, older people and their dependants.

Ms Sara Wilbard, a secretary of the WORTH group where Restuta is a member, reveals the secret behind all this achievement. According to Sara, women were now able to borrow as much as up to 800,000/= shillings since the fund has increased from the initial savings of 10,000/= when the group started in 2011, up to more than 4,000,000/= to date.

With the money she borrows, Restuta is running small businesses where she earns an income enough to cater for household needs, school fees and repaying the loans within a period agreed in various guidelines governing the operations of WORTH groups.

A breakthrough in illiteracy dilemma!

In her testimony it sounds like Restuta got an overnight success from what could have been a desperate fate if she had not joined the WORTH group. However, things were not all that smooth. She felt quite embarrassed for one thing even after joining the group and began earning a meaningful income from her businesses.

When she joined the group at her early forties, Restuta could not read and write. All she was able to do was to ask fellow members to assist her in counting the money she borrowed from WORTH group and someone else on her behalf had to sign on the papers authenticating receipt of funds.

“In fact I felt quite unhappy being unable to read and write. It was really embarrassing to ask someone sign on the receipts for the money I borrowed simply because I could not read and write!” said Restuta with a faint smile on her face!

However, it was no sooner than a few months of joining the group that Restuta achieved what she counts as a milestone in her lifetime. She was having a small coaching by a literacy teacher linked to a WORTH group. After a few months of coaching, she was able to make it to a point where she can now write her name and read it correctly.

It goes without saying that WORTH was such a powerful innovation in empowering women. Certain women participating in these groups have gained so much confidence so that some contested various posts against male candidates in the civic elections previously.

In WORTH, groups there are a number of class sessions where women learn on a myriad of issues including literacy and business. This is what makes Restuta a happy woman, her former difficulties notwithstanding!

Reviving hopes!

Idd is aged 42 years. His eyes often roll with tears when he recalls his past miseries. He got an accident 2013 and lost his left limb. Before the road accident, Idd was running a small shop at his home village trading centre as the sole means to make his both ends meet. His shop was full of a variety of household commodities which he sold and earned enough money to cater for his family needs. He is married and blessed with five children.

Under normal circumstances, Idd could not have joined the Older Peoples Group affiliated to Sawaka. He is well below prescribed age of 60 years and above which anyone would consider as a necessary requirement to become a member of a group affiliated to an association for the elderly.

Soon after the accident, he went for orthopedic treatment at Muhimbiri National Referral Hospital. He stayed there for six solid months. The doctors sought the option to cut off his left limb which sustained multiple fractures during the accident. The medical costs incurred almost swallowed his whole capital. In fact, he had to start business right from scratch when he came back to his home village. The shelves in his shop, which were previously full of a variety of commodities, were now empty and yawning!

According to him, this was quite a bitter experience which would hardly fade away from his memory. He lost his limb. He lost hope too. This is because he was totally incapacitated and yet he spent all his business capital in footing the medical bills!

In his area there is a group called Kikundi Cha Kusaidia Wazee Runyaga (KIKUWARU). The Older Peoples group is now the real hope for Idd. A few months after returning home from hospital, he was invited to join the group. Although he was very frustrated and thought he was a useless person due to his disability, the group regarded him as a strong resource. He was amazed when the older people immediately appointed him their treasurer apparently banking on his experience in business and honesty in handling cash.

Growing pineapple is one of lucrative income generating activities which earning older people a meaningful income with support and close coordination by the Older People’s Organization in Karagwe-Sawaka

Apart from working as a treasurer, Idd has been borrowing cash from the group which he invests in his shop business and other income generating activities. Since he joined the group almost two years ago, the feelings of pain and despair of the past were gradually fading away from his mind.

In March this year, Idd employed casual labourers to cultivate a large piece of land near his home where he planted Irish potato. By the time of documenting his testimony, Idd was confident of a huge harvest of potatoes which are currently fetching handsome prices in Kayanga and in big towns and cities elsewhere in the country.

“In fact I would be short of gratitude if I don’t recognize the support from the older peoples group which gave me the support and enabled me to stand back on my own feet. I was completely frustrated and had almost given up but the support I received from the group has brought confidence in me and entirely revived my hope” He said.

Despite his disability, Idd now has the ability to take care of his five children. He is able to pay for their school needs and providing them with the basic care like clothing, medical costs and food.

Sawaka’s Strong Vision

However, the support Idd receives from the Older Peoples group in Runyaga did not fall like manna from heaven. Sawaka has the vision to see a community without age discrimination, which respects and protects vulnerable groups including people with disabilities.

Through execution of its various interventions, Sawaka provides cash subsidies to Older People’s revolving funds from which members can get loans and put up small income generating projects to make their both ends meet. One of these people is Idd Kahanantuki who does not bother about the distance which remains to get back to the point where he was before his misery. For him what matters is to make the first step. Whatever smaller the assistance he has received from the older people’s group, he says it has had significant impact in his entire life. For him the assistance from the older people’s group is a bird in the hand which is worth more than a hundred birds in the bush!

Sawaka fights tooth to nail for older people’s medical costs exemption

The issuance of identity cards has spared older people of the awkward situation they face in accessing free medical services at designated health facilities in Karagwe and Kyerwa Districts.

About 7,138 eligible recipients of these IDs have been identified, breaking through the red tape tendencies in the provision of free medical services to older people.

The issuance of IDs is being implemented as a result of an intervention by the elderly people’s support organization in the area (SAWAKA) to ensure the government policy guidelines for free healthcare provision for older people were observed.

Karagwe District Health Officer Mr Moses Eligawesa said a total of 3,183 older people have been provided with these IDs and photographs for about 3,123 people have been taken pending receipt of their cards in the next few weeks.

Mr Eligawesa said the exercise, which is implemented in close collaboration with SAWAKA has achieved about 45 percent performance and it was continuous to ensure older people eligible for medical costs exemption were identified and provided with these cards.

He said Karagwe District council has contracted the District Designated Hospital regarding provision of free medical services to those possessing the IDs while the medical staff at all government health facilities have received directives to do the same within their respective localities.

Daudi Simeo(64) of Kayungu village in Karagwe displays a hospital discharge certificate he obtained after receiving free medical services using SAWAKA IDs during his recent visit to a health facility in his locality.

Ms Paulina Baijaborobi is linked to one of Sawaka Older Peoples Monitoring Groups (OPMG) in Nyakabanga. She said the issuance of IDs has played significant role in sparing older people of the problems they encountered in the event of falling sick.

She said in the past, older people succumbed to difficult circumstances including deaths since they were deprived of free medical services for which they are otherwise entitled as per existing policy guidelines. She said most elderly people shunned visiting health facilities in the event of falling sick simply because they had no money to foot the medical bills.

Daudi Simeo (64) has welcomed the council programme for older people’s free medical services with a smiling face. He was able to get medical treatment recently at Nyakabanga Dispensary. He said unlike in the past when they were denied treatment unless they paid, it took him no time before the medical staff gave him the care he deserved upon showing his ID.

The issuance of IDs is intended to deal with the awkward situation which older people faced in pursuit of healthcare. Before the ID programme, it was a common phenomenon for older people staying on long queues for hours and required to foot the medical bills against government policy guidelines.

The situation necessitated SAWAKA intervention including preparation of a computerized database system for eligible recipients of free medical services and a proposal for providing older people with the Identity Cards.

Karagwe District Council welcomed the idea and engaged village and ward executive officers throughout the district to participate in the identification process. The District Health Officer Mr Moses Eligawesa said the council was exploring possibilities of setting aside a certain amount of money from own sources which would cater for supply of drugs and other medical consumables needed for older people’s healthcare.

Mr Eligawesa said the identification exercise has covered 12 out of 22 wards of the District. He noted that the issuance of IDs to older people was a continuous process and expected its coverage to be 95 percent by the time of commemorating the international older peoples day in October 1^st this year.

4.0: CONCLUSION

Apart from the testimonies above, Sawaka documentation team recoded other testimonies for implemented interventions which have had significant impact in the lives of its direct and indirect beneficiaries. These interventions include goat rearing and growing pineapples where the beneficiaries get substantial income for improving lives. Part of the income obtained from these micro projects is also used for providing the basic needs to orphans and vulnerable children under their guardianship.

In addition to the above projects, SAWAKA has constructed a girls’ hostel at Kayanga Secondary school. According to teachers and students, the construction of the dormitory has spared hosted students from walking long distances to school every day, something that is said to have had adverse consequences to their general academic performances in the past.

According to testimonies, the construction of the dormitory has also reduced widespread pregnancies and vulnerability to HIV infections among girls renting private apartments outside the school premises. The small income obtained from the dormitory rental fees will be injected into activities to sustain SAWAKA operations and programmes meant for the attainment of the organization’s goals and objectives.

SAWAKA believes that a sustainable solution to the problems lies in the hands of the people facing them. In implementing SAWAKA interventions, the community itself has been at the forefront in suggesting possible solutions to the problems they are faced especially those facing older people.

The organization has identified and mobilized groups in Karagwe district and other regions from Tanzania mainland with utmost concern over the interests of older people to lobby for policies and regulations in favor of older people’s lives and livelihoods.

Such efforts include engaging key government policy and decision makers on not only an individual and institutional perspective but also starting from grassroots up to the national level.

It was interesting to hear the testimonies which produce credible evidence of the great impact that Sawaka interventions have had especially noting a number of multiplier effects through WORTH groups. A woman called Sofia Stephen in Kituntu recently got a 4000 litre plastic water tank as a donation from a different organization other than Sawaka. The organization she identifies as Matunda Mali used to buy her produce. This attests indirect benefits of Sawaka interventions in helping older people to help their dependants.

Lastly but not least, SAWAKA extends heartfelt gratitude to partners, HelpAge International ,Help Age Germany and PACT Tanzania for their generous support toward successful implementation of the interventions narrated in this report. Sincerely, without the support from these partners both in kind and cash, it could have been an uphill task for our organization to achieve its ultimate goals of improving the welfare of older people and vulnerable communities.

KARUDECA MICROFINANCE PROJECT/HISA PROJECT

We are currently running a microfinance project.It has over 100 members with about 12 million Tanzania shillings.However,members are increasing,we are not in position to fulfill members loan needs.The project is run using members contributions.Not funded to the moment.Arrangements are underway to look for grants to boost this worthwhile project.

COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION (CBR)

We are providing CBR services to people with disabilities in Karagwe and Kyerwa by partnering with KCBRP and KESUDE,the project is funded by Liliane Foundation-Nethelands

NYAKAHANGA DDH CLUB FEET CLINIC

We  have opened a club feet clinic at Nyakahanga DDH in Karagwe Tanzania.The clinic is run by partnreship with KARUDECA,KADEF,KESUDE,KCBRP and Nyakahanga DDH.The project is funded by Miracle Feet ,a US based organisation.

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUSHIP TRAINING

We are running the business skill training to our members and other Karagwe district residents, to strengthen their business as a way out of poverty. 

ALBINO PROJECT

We are providing an awareness to the community to stop albino killings in Tanzania,lake zone in particular.This is done by volunteering  by KARUDECA staff members by partnering wil our fellow organisation member of Tanzania Disability Rehabilitation Consortium (TDRC).

MICRO CREDIT SCHEME.

KARUDECA is currentlly running a micro credit scheme for business women in Karagwe Tanzania.The project aims at giving the business women with some skills necessary for business develpment as solution  against povety.We also provide them with soft loans to boost their business.We have todate served 54 women and we provide loans to some women every month.We expect to provide loans to 238 women by mid 2017.The project is funded by Wabia Network,a UK based organisation.

We welcome volunteers who have technical expertise in Proposal Development,Community Based Rehabilitation(CBR) and Microfinance.

Area of work is Karagwe Tanzania,East Africa.

Working days are Monday to Friday for  a period of at least six months.

Contact:

Steven Revelian -Chief Executive Officer

Email:stevenrevelian@gmail.com

Cell:+255 752 984029

Facebook/stevenrevelian

Plesase donate us through the following bank details.

Bank Name: CRDB Bank PLC   P.O. Box 504, Karagwe, Tanzania

Account Number: 0152091013400

SWIFT CODE: CORU TZTZ

Account Name: KARUDECA TANZANIA. 

Account Holder:KARAGWE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION AGENCY(KARUDECA) P.O BOX  246 KARAGWE TANZANIA.

1.   WHO WE ARE:-

''TOP'' - The Tanzania Older People`s Platformis a NETWORK of older people's rights organisations so far bringing together 15 of them country wide and directly representing  nearly 2.1 milion older people in Tanzania.

''TOP aims to voice  and promote the interests of all older people in Tanzania (i.e.peasants,retired employees,headsmen,fishermen etc) who the government in the National Ageing Policy Statement para 3.3 corectly realizes them to be an important resource  thet needs to be taped for the developmentof the national.TOP membership is composed of Age-Care NGOs and CSOs working with  and for older people, to give a strong and credible voice to their; rights( human,basic, and legal);and needs.The founder members of TOP are the following:-

1. Saidia Wazee Tanzania - Dodoma (SAWATA DODOMA) for Dodoma Region.
2. Chama cha Wazee Wastaafu Lindi (CHAWALI) for Lindi region
3. Chama cha Wazee Wastaafu Mtwara (CHAWAMU) for Mtwara rgion.
4. Chama cha wazee Wastaafu Arusha (for Arusha region.
5. Saidia Wazee Karagwe(SAWAKA) for Kagera region.
6. Saidia Wazee Tanzania- Kasuru(SAWATA- KASULU) for Kigoma region.
7. Songea Older People's Forum (SOPF) for Ruvuma region.
8. PADI for Ruvuma region.
9. Saidia Wazee Tanzania - Mara (SAWATA -MARA) for Mara Region
10. SHISO for Iringa region.
11. MOrogoro Elderly People's Organization (MOREPEO) for Morogoro region
12. TEWOREC for Tanga region.
13. Social Action Concern (SCAN) for Dar-es-salaam region.
14. MAPERECE for Mwanza region.
15. IRAHOPEGA for Singida region.
16. AFRIWARG for Muheza Tanga.

2.   BACKGROUND:-

 TOP was set up in May 2008 following  a process of discussion among active age care organizations who felt the need to improve service delivery and strengthen cooperation among themselves in the form of Coalition whose main goal will be  to raise awareness of older people`s ageing issues that concern  them most. Prior to this there was a national society  for older people called "SAIDIA WAZEE TANZANIA" or ( SAWATA). Unfortunately this Civic Society  Organization could give a strong  and credible voice  to older people`s ageing issues, views ,interests and needs. For that reason a caucus  of mainly newly formed  or reformed age - care organizations  which have been formed following the formulation  of the National Ageing Policy in 2003, resolved to replace SAWATA national  age- care society  and formed another in its place called - The Tanzania National Age- care Organization (acronyme TANACO).But alas; due lack of clear  Vision  and mission for this organization, on the one hand ,and selfishness  and self esteem  tendenciesassumed  by the incumbent  TANACO leadership, on the hand , TANACO found itself virtually unable to deliver any meaning service  to a to and for older people. In May 2008, group of 8 active  age care organizations  working for older people  in the serior of Rights  ( human basic , and legal rights)  for older people (specifically  widows and widowers) resolved  to form  a Coalition  or Network which they termed  - " MTANDAO WA  HAKI  ZA WAZEE TANZANIA" ( acronymed "MTAHAWATA") for aim of using this coalition/network to consolidate  the achievements  they have already  made in service delivery  to older people  and also to strengthen their joint capacity requirement  for developing possibly  an expanded  programme  in their sector  of interest.By November  2008 this move  had attracted 7 other active age care organizations, raising the number  of MTAHAWATA  founding members  to 15. And in  December 2008 , when these age care organizations  were gathered  in Dodoma for  an annual  review meeting , they resolved  to expand  the interests  of MTAHAWATA  and re-named  the coalition /Network  to be  - The Tanzania Older People`s Platform (acronymed  "TOP") . And the the expanded interests  were defined to be  as follows:-

• To raise awareness  at National level of the opportunity  and challenges that arise  from ageing of our society.
• To shape appropriate  policy responses in the interest of older people.
• To promote the interests and involvement of older people in the development of our nation.

NATIONAL POLICIES ON AGEING AND OLDER PEOPLE IN TANZANIA.

Although the Tanzanian Government has recognized older people in its various policies and strategies, still there is no coherent system for these government policies, registrations, strategies, directives of executive government leaders at national, regional or district levels (e.g. Prime Minister, Regional or District Commissioners, etc), and programmes to effectively deliver consistent and good quality of services for all older people in the country.

Significant government documents, policies, directives and support mechanisms under discussion include the following:-

• The Constitution of URT 2005 English edition.
• National Ageing Policy (NAP) - 2003.
• Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
• MKUKUTA phase 1(2005 -2010) and phase II (2010 – 2015).
• Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP).
• Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP).
• Prime Minister`s Speech of 1^st Oct. 2010.
• National Health Policy – 2007.
• Cost Sharing and Community Health Fund (CHF) – 2001.
• Primary Health Service Development Programme (PHSDP) 2007-2017.
• Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP)-2009-2015.
• National Strategy for Non - Communicable Diseases (NCDs) 2009 – 2015.
• National Eye Care Strategic Plan (NECSP)-2010 -2015.
• TACAIDS Policy _ 2001 and 2010.

            Brief notes for each of the above mentioned documents are given here    bellow:-

a)   .The Constitution of URT ( 2005 English edition)

Under section 11 (1) of the URT Constitution consideration for the older age says:-

‘’The state authority shall make appropriate provisions for the realization of a person's right  to work, self education and social welfare at times of old age, sickness or disability and in other cases of incapacity. Without prejudice to those rights, the state authority shall make provisions to ensure that every person earns his livelihood.’’

b) The National Ageing Policy (NAP) published in 2003: This is a comprehensive document on Age and Ageing Policy in Tanzania. As for health sector, the policy addresses negative attitudes of health care providers as a key concern and sets out healthcare rights for older people, including free healthcare at all government health facilities for people aged 60 years and above. However, the policy is not yet regulated and still lacks legislation which would specify the minimum standards and framework for implementation across the national by the central and local government authorities and other stakeholders.

c) Tanzania Vision 2025 is a document providing direction and philosophy for the long –term development of the country. Among other things, Tanzania wants to achieve by 2025 a high quality of livelihood for all Tanzanians (which means, the elderly included).Health is identified as one of the priority sectors contributing to a higher quality livelihood for all Tanzanians.

d) Millennium Development Goals (MGGs) 2000 – 2015. This is a UN document with eight goals that all 191 UN member states (Tanzania included) have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015. The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000 commits world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. The MDGs are derived from this Declaration, and all have specific targets and indicators.

The MDGs also provide a framework for the entire international community to work together towards a common end – making sure that human development reaches everyone, everywhere. If these goals are achieved, world poverty will be cut by half, tens of millions of lives will be saved, and billion more people will have the opportunity to benefit from the global economy.

The eight MDGs goals being:-

• Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
• Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education.
• Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality.
• Goal 5: Improve maternal health.
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
• Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
• Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

e) National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP) or community called MKUKUTA-Mkakati WA Kukuza Uchumi Na Kupunguza Umasikini Tanzania (MKUKUTA) is a national strategy emphasizing on improving quality of life and social wellbeing with particular focus on the poorest and national most vulnerable groups.

MKUKUTA phase I (2005-2010) sets:

v  40% of eligible older people reached with effective social protection measures by the year 2010(pg. 38).

v  Access health services by 100% of eligible older people provided by specialized (trained) medical personnel by 2010 (pg.39).

Unfortunately, the dissemination, resourcing and implementation of this strategy remain patchy across the country.

As an example, under health service regulations, people aged 60 years and above are entitled to free medical treatment in government health services. In the Views of the People 2007, the Survey reveals that only 10% of elderly people respondents had received free treatment; 48% were

unaware of their rights to exemptions from medical fees; 18% had been refused treatment in government facility because they could not afford to pay for services, and 13% indicated that they had been refused free treatment due to lack of proof of their age (pg. 44).

Unavailability of drugs at all government health facilities proves to be an outstanding cry and challenge countrywide.

MKUKUTA phase II (2010-2015) sets to implement the gaps and focuses to provide adequate social protection and rights to vulnerable and needy groups including older people.

f)    Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP).

g) Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP).

h) National Health Policy –(2007): In this Policy of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare ,it considers the need for the provision of health services to older people although implementation faces a number of constraints such as poor administrative structures and procedures ,unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles, unavailability of proper medical services and medication , as well as reluctance of health care staff and local government officials to adequately deliver to older people their entitled services.

i)    Coast Sharing and Community Health Fund.

     Cost Sharing.

Description.

Cost sharing in government health facilities was introduced in 1993. This revised

the previous health financing policy that aimed to provide health services free to all from all government health facilities. The previous policy was deemed unrealistic as GOT financing was insufficient to truly provide all services for all of the population, and the policy resulted in poor quality and inequitable health services delivery. Attempting to cover everyone with free essential health services resulted in poor quality care and poor coverage. The poor suffered the most, as they had fewer alternatives, whereas the wealthier members of the population could opt out of the government system and pay private providers. The objectives of cost sharing are to (i) generate additional revenues to bridge the gap in government allocation, (ii) improve availability and quality of health

services, (iii) strengthen the referral system, (iv) rationalize utilization of health care services, (v) improve equity and access to health services by pooling financial risk and cross-subsidizing costs and (vi) strengthen community voice (users/payers) towards improving service quality and provider’s accountability.

Exemptions:

The scheme charges fee for service (1) for different health services in

government health facilities. However, the government has mandated that the following are exempted from paying fees at any government facility; all children under the age of five, pregnant mothers including deliveries , vulnerable groups that can not afford to pay because of income, particular diseases that drain substantial income from the patients, such as chronic diseases (e.g., tuberculosis and AIDS),and any disease if it is an epidemic.