2020 update
Health of the Child (Afya ya Mtoto)
Malnutrition and stunting remain serious human development challenges in Tanzania. A government nutrition survey released in June 2019 stated that nationwide 3.5% of children were found to have acute malnutrition, and three million children have severe stunting.
The situation varies from region to region, and between rural and regional populations.
Mirroring a FWF project undertaken in 2017, in March the health clinics in Mtae and Mpanga were asked to select the most endangered children for a nutrition program. As a result, 14 families received nutrition-enriched flour, cooking oil, peanut butter, dry fish and soap on a monthly basis. Food quantities varied from family to family depending upon the size of the family. Ages were between 1 and 4 years.
Each month the child was weighed at the heath clinic so that progress could be measured. With few exceptions every month saw an increase in weight of each child with two reaching normal weight within four months. It is was our intention to, in cooperation with local health clinics, expand the project into other nearby villages.
By the end of 2020, this project had expanded into Mambo, Mponde Kaya and Sunga villages with 35 children being nutritionally supported.
By year’s end seven of the original fourteen children were back to normal weight. They will remain on the program for six months to ensure they are no longer in danger.
COVID-19
The situation regarding Covid-19 in Tanzania is unclear. The government does not release regular updates. Be that as it may, FWF believes there is no harm in taking precautions. We have supplied:
9 health clinics with hand washing units, masks and gloves. We will continue to renew supplies as needed.
We have also supplied some local schools with hand washing units in the belief that hand-washing is a life skill that reduces the risk of many diseases. This is a project destined for expansion. K
Throughout Mambo village we distributed 20 smaller hand washing units. The village contributed the stands and has commuted to keeping up the water and liquid soap supplies.
Happy Cows Happy Farmers
Happy Cows Happy Farmers is one of our long established (2011) animal welfare projects which educates local farmers on cow-care basics; diet, shelter, fertility and love.
In April 2020 we purchased a bull which the farmers house and feed. In turn, they bring their cows to him when they are suspected of being in heat at no cost.
It is early days yet, but the feedback has been positive. Records of visits to the bull and expected calving times are kept. We expect our first calf to arrive early in 2021.
Happy Chicken Happy Farmers
FWF inherited this project from the Peace Corps volunteer in Mambo village when she was repatriated due to Covid-19.
The aim of the programme is to produce income for women by setting up a small business to sell eggs locally. We know from past experience that when women have money, their children benefit directly with better nourishment and better schooling.
The welfare of the chickens was of primary concern in setting up the project. Free range possibilities, free feeding and general care have all been emphasised and accepted as necessary.
The women have now built friendly shelters for the chickens and have received advice on how to run a business. FWF has provided the first batch of 100 young chickens to get things started. Also fodder will be provided until eggs production becomes a reality - early in 2021. The sixteen women have formed two groups each with 50 chickens.
Women’s Ward in Mavumo village
In late 2019 FWF committed to completing the women's ward attached the village health clinic. The village agreed to pay for the labour costs with FWF agreeing to pay for the cost of building materials. The village is nearing completion of the building and FWF will then supply the necessary beds etc. to ensure that women can give birth safely and children are cared for locally.
It looked like this:
Community Health Clinic in Kizara
In March 2019 FWF agreed to contribute to the building of a community health clinic in Kizara. The village would contribute labour costs and bricks. FWF would contribute most of the other needed building materials.
The project has had some unforeseen delays, but the District Medical Officer (who will arrange staffing) has been notified that the project is expected to be completed by mid- 2021.
Horongo Health Centre
The work in partnership with the village of Horongo to complete their Health Centre was begun in April 2019. It is almost done! The government medical officer recently inspected the work and declared himself impressed. To complete the project water and electricity (solar) will need to be connected. At year’s end the village had almost completed the water connection.
Ivigo Health Center
A a delay in proceedings, the village has again found the motivation to get the project completed. As with Horongo, the internal building is almost complete.
Mkundi Ya Mtae
Working in partnership with the village, FWF is providing materials to build a second classroom at the primary school. In 2018 we worked to complete the initial classroom and in 2019 six toilets
Upcoming projects
We have now established budgets and are commencing the following projects:
Mbuzii Primary School
The current toilets are extremely unhygienic and dangerous. FWF has agreed to support the building of 17 new toilets with hand-washing units. FWF will provide most of the necessary building materials, the village will pay for the trade work.Mbuzii Health Centre
The Installation of an incinerator is necessary because the clinic currently burns its refuse in an open pit. FWF will provide the building materials and the village the labour costs.Makole water distribution system
The village of Makole has no water distribution system. Currently, girls and women fetch water for household use from an open stream - downhill from the city centre. The project will now connect wate to the village health centre, primary school and village centre via a 1.9Km pipeline. FWF will provide the pipeline and extra water tanks. The village will dig the required trench and pay all needed labour costs.Health Clinics
In November and early December, we visited 36 health clinics in the Lushoto and Bumbuli districts. As a result, we now have an inventory of their equipment needs. These needs range from delivery beds and kits, sterilizers, and solar units, through to blood pressure monitors, blankets, mattresses and baby scales.
These clinics together treat approximately 10,000 patients per month.A major focus in early 2021 will be to provide the needed equipment to these health clinics. Once these 36 have been serviced, we will then turn our attention to the remaining clinics in the two districts - approximately 130 in number.