Hussein Mwinyi to grace 10th anniversary of Tanzania Health Summit
What you need to know:
- The strengthening of Tanzania's Health System, Primary Health Care(PHC) and Universal Health Coverage(UHC) will take centre-stage at the summit which will kick off with opening sessions, theme discussions and speeches today 3rd October 2023 at 3 pm at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam. Close to 1000 health stakeholders from Tanzania and internationally are convening for the 10th Anniversary of the Tanzania Health Summit (THS) deliberate on Tanzania's health system strengthening strategies in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plans, with focus on Primary Health Care(PHC).
The President of Zanzibar Hussein Ali Mwinyi will grace the summit in the afternoon.
This year's theme, "Strengthening Health Systems for UHC, focusing on Primary Health Care," is particularly timely, as Tanzania is working to achieve UHC by 2030.
Primary Health Care (PHC) is a key component of UHC, as it provides essential health services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director of Health, Social Welfare, and Nutrition Services, President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government, has been researching Primary Health Care(PHC) for many years.
He says, “We see that in Tanzania, Primary Health Care contributes 95 percent in health services provision. Therefore, investment in that area is very much needed to be able to reach the government's goal of achieving Health For All by or before the year 2030.”
Dr. Kapologwe, who is also a Board Member of the summit, describes the health system as a means, "Primary Health Care as an approach and Universal Health Coverage as a Goal" as he explains why PHC is a foundation of a strong health system.
"PHC is the first point of contact for people seeking care, and it provides a wide range of services, from preventive care to treatment for chronic diseases," he said ahead of the summit.
"PHC services are provided close to where people live and work," he said. "They are also relatively inexpensive, and they cover a wide range of health needs. This makes PHC essential for ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare," he noted.
The Tanzania Health Summit (THS) is the country's largest healthcare conference and exhibition. It brings together healthcare investors, innovators, professionals, government officials, and private sector leaders to discuss the latest trends and developments in healthcare in Tanzania.
The THS is organized by a consortium of institutions, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Health-Zanzibar, Bakwata, Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC), the Association of Health Facilities of Tanzania (APHFTA), and TMHS Tanzania.
The 10th Tanzania Health Summit will feature a variety of sessions on PHC, including plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and workshops. The summit will also feature a poster session, where researchers can present their findings on PHC.
"We are excited to have such a strong focus on PHC at this year's summit," said Mr. Josephat Mhagama, Organising Committee Member and Administrator of the Association of Private Health Facilities of Tanzania (APHFTA). "PHC is essential for achieving UHC and strengthening the health system overall."
Mr Mhagama, a private sector player, explained that the public and private health sector are working together to drive the agenda on Tanzania's health system, UHC, and primary health care towards the 2030 goal of UHC.
"The public and private sectors are complementary," he said. "The public sector provides essential services, such as PHC, while the private sector provides specialized services and innovation."
Mr Mhagama emphasized that the public and private sectors need to work together to achieve UHC and strengthen the health system.
"We need to coordinate our efforts and work towards common goals," he said. "Only then can we ensure that everyone in Tanzania has access to quality healthcare."
THS to Award Healthcare Workers to Boost Morale and Improve Services
Dr. Grace Magembe, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health(MoH), spoke ahead of the summit about the decision to start awarding healthcare workers through THS Health Awards. She said that the awards are a way to boost the morale of healthcare workers and improve healthcare services.
"Healthcare workers are the backbone of our health system," said Dr. Magembe. "They work tirelessly to provide care to our people, often in difficult and challenging conditions. These awards are a way to recognize their hard work and dedication."
Dr. Magembe also said that the awards will help to improve healthcare services in the long-run.
"By recognizing and rewarding excellence in healthcare, we are sending a message that we value our healthcare workers and that we are committed to providing quality healthcare to our people," she said.
