HEALTH SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS UP IN ARMS OVER THE CHF ACT OF 2001

Add captionA cross-section of participants in group work discussion during the meeting yesterday to discuss the challenge in providing healthcare services in Iringa district organized by TACOSODE non-governmental organization through a citizens engaging in government oversight (CEGO) in the health services project. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

The health sector stakeholders have requested the Community Health Fund Act of 2001 to be reviewed in order to demonstrate how compensation for the services provided to special groups could be refunded.

They said they want to know where and how the compensation will be provided to raise funds for pharmaceutical purchases.

Tanzania Council for Social Development (TACOSODE) through the project of empowering citizens to engage in government oversight (CEGO) in health services provision conducted a one day Community Health Fund (CHF) advocacy meeting held at Kihesa-Kilolo in Iringa town.

They said yesterday at a meeting to discuss the challenge in providing healthcare services in Iringa district organized by TACOSODE non-governmental organization through a citizens engaging in government oversight (CEGO) in the health services project.

The meeting included clinicians from dispensaries and health centres, ward councilors, district planning officer, community development officer, district CHF coordinator, ward executive officers, the district medical officer and other stakeholders.

They said the government should take and pay compensation for health services provided to specific groups that receive health care from hospitals, health centers and clinics, adding that those groups were spending most of the CHF members' money.

They said that pardoning (exemption) groups do not pay for health care and make CHF members to have the burdensome because the centers are not compensated.

The CHF Act of 2001 in section 10 (1) gives ward health committees authority to grant exemptions to specific groups such as pregnant, elderly, disabled and children under five years old.

Section 10 (2) gives these committees compensation to the health services provided to these groups, but the law does not specify where the committees scout for funds to cover the services provided.

They said that there was a shift in the backbone of CHF contributors and discouraged them from continuing to contribute to the fund and thus promoting a wave of drug shortages, antibiotics and medical supplies.

On the other hand, the community health fund (CHF) coordinator Iringa district Dora Mlomo said there was poor public participation in the fund leading to failure to provide health care.

Mlomo urged citizens to join the fund that could improve the healthcare delivery as it would cost ten thousand shillings per year.

She said that citizens should be joining so many that the money available to many and able to serve even forgiven groups.

Charles Nyagawa who is Mlowa ward councilor said politicians are a source of underdevelopment in various areas in the country.

He said there were some politicians who threatened the people not contribute towards development, such as construction of schools and health centres and making projects impossible to implement.

Nyangawa said that the issue of development was not to be politically motivated except politicians should be organized to bring about the development of the people.

He said that politicians from the ruling party (CCM) and those on the other side would support the government's efforts to implement the party's policies.

TACOSODE Advocacy Strategist Abraham Kimuli said the meeting aimed at sharing experience on issues raised by TACOSODE during CEGO in health project implementation in Iringa and Kongwa district councils.

He said through the USAID funding the meeting was looking at CHF compensation to the exempted special groups, management and administration to the "CHF Act of 2001" and proposed the way forward.

The meeting also advocated to the Ministry of Health for review procedures for CHF compensation, management and administration as provided for CHF Act of 2001 to reduce the burden carried by CHF members.

Furthermore, the executive director of TACOSODE Theofrida advised the government to allocate a budget at least to the proposed level in the Abuja Declaration which is 15 per cent of the state budget.

She said that the government should be managing local revenue as donors are slow to reduce the financial contribution to the health sector in order to break free.

Kapinga said the government should provide all the approved and timely funds to enable health projects and services to be done as planned to avoid providing services under the scope.

Four Armed Robbery Suspects Killed In Shootout With Police In Songwe

“This is Vwawa Bus Stand, where the incident occurred in which armed robbers shot and killed a security guard before fleeing with various items.” Songwe. Four suspected armed robbers have been shot dead following a confrontation with police in Songwe Region after allegedly being involved in a violent raid on a mobile phone and financial services shop in Vwawa town, Mbozi District, in which a security guard was killed. According to a statement issued today, December 30, 2025, by the Songwe Regional Police Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Augustino Senga, the incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. The suspects reportedly stormed the shop, owned by businessman Gabriel Msemwa, at the Vwawa main bus stand, killed the guard, William Mwampashi (45), and fled with assorted items. The deceased suspects have been identified as Bruce Mwasenga, Eliuta Mapunda, Abdul Chiba, and Justine, known by a single name. SACP Senga said police immediately launched intensive, inte...

JAB Yawasogeza Huduma Waandishi Iringa, Yaomba Ushirikiano Kudhibiti Waandishi Wasioidhinishwa

Iringa. Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB) imeendelea na jitihada za kusogeza huduma zake kwa waandishi wa habari nchini, safari hii ikifika katika Klabu ya Waandishi wa Habari Iringa (Iringa Press Club – IPC), ikiwa ni sehemu ya mkakati wa kuboresha tasnia ya habari na kulinda taaluma ya uandishi wa habari. Akizungumza wakati wa kikao na waandishi wa habari mkoani Iringa, Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB), Wakili Patrick Kipangula, amesema lengo la ziara hiyo ni kutoa elimu kuhusu majukumu ya bodi, mchakato wa ithibati pamoja na kusikiliza changamoto zinazowakabili waandishi wa habari ngazi ya mikoa. Wakili Kipangula amesema bado kuna changamoto ya uwepo wa watu wanaojihusisha na shughuli za uandishi wa habari bila kuwa na ithibati halali, hali inayochafua tasnia na kuhatarisha maadili ya kazi hiyo nyeti. “Tunawaomba waandishi wa habari kushirikiana na Bodi kwa kuwafichua watu wanaojitambulisha kama waandishi bila kuwa na ithiba...

MUCE IMPLEMENTS SH18.6 BILLION PROJECT IN HONOUR OF FATHER OF THE NATION’S VISION

Iringa. As Tanzania marks 26 years since the passing of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere — a passionate advocate for education — Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), continues to successfully implement the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project worth over Sh18.6 billion. Speaking to journalists in Iringa, MUCE Principal Prof Method Samwel Semiono said the project, implemented by the government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, aims to reform the higher education system so it can directly contribute to the country’s economic transformation. “The five-year project (2021/2022–2025/2026) is funded by the World Bank and focuses on curriculum improvement, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, inclusive education and gender equality, as well as promoting the use of ICT and digital learning,” explained Prof Semiono. He no...

PAMLOMO-SAUTI YA JAMII

Search This Blog