Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA has continued to make significant progress in strengthening its health sector, driven by a series of targeted programmes and reforms aimed at expanding access, improving quality and enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery across the country.
Under the leadership of the sixth phase government, headed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country has prioritised health as a critical pillar of national development.
Recognising the essential link between a healthy population and economic growth, the government has rolled out strategic initiatives focused on infrastructure development, workforce expansion, technology adoption and community-based care.
The government has invested heavily in upgrading and building health facilities at all levels dispensaries, health centres, district and regional hospitals. These efforts have improved access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. New facilities are equipped with modern medical equipment, enabling early diagnosis and effective treatment of a wide range of conditions.
To address the shortage of healthcare professionals, the government has introduced aggressive recruitment and training initiatives.
Thousands of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives and specialists, have been employed and deployed across the country. The state has facilitated scholarships and opportunities for Tanzanians to study medicine and allied health fields, both locally and abroad.
Tanzania’s advancements in the health sector reflect a firm political commitment and a clear vision to ensure health for all. While challenges remain, especially in reaching remote communities and addressing infrastructure gaps, the trajectory is positive. With continued investment, innovation and inclusive policies, Tanzania is steadily transforming its healthcare system into a model for other developing nations.
While the government continues to work toward achieving Universal Health Coverage, programmes such as the improved Community Health Fund (CHF) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) have made healthcare more affordable and accessible to millions.
Plans are underway to introduce mandatory health insurance to ensure no Tanzanian is left behind. All these initiatives are critical in advancing improved health service provision. To support these initiatives, the government also came up with the Health Basket Fund (HBF), a pooled financing model aimed at strengthening primary healthcare services in Tanzania.
Gairo and Mvomero districts in Morogoro Region stand as compelling examples of the transformative impact of the HBF.
The HBF brings together resources from the government, development partners and other stakeholders to support equitable and efficient healthcare financing at the local government level. The model particularly supports programmes such as the CHF and Integrated Community Development Programmes (ICDP).
In rural districts like Gairo and Mvomero, the HBF has expanded access to quality healthcare, improved maternal and child health services and enabled construction, renovation and equipping of health facilities ultimately improving health outcomes for thousands of residents.
Chief Medical Officer of Gairo District Council, Alex Manditi says that the fund has had a transformative effect.
“We now receive HBF funding to procure essential medicines and modern medical equipment. Complaints about medicine shortages are a thing of the past.”
He said that the fund has been instrumental in renovating health infrastructure, repairing vehicles and motorcycles for outreach and implementing districtwide nutrition programmes.
“In 2021, Gairo had only one health centre. Today, we have a district hospital and two functioning health centres, with a third under construction. Four new dispensaries have also been built, bringing the total to eight new facilities in just four years. The district now boasts 41 health centres in total,” said Mr Manditi.
He credited the government’s continued investment the health sector, acknowledging that while not all challenges are resolved, significant strides have been made.
“Maternal and child services, particularly in nutrition, have vastly improved. Equipment repairs and reliable supplies have enhanced service delivery. HBF has also strengthened our referral system from dispensaries to regional hospitals.”
At Gairo Health Centre, Medical Officer-in-Charge Dr Festo Lwambano revealed a notable reduction in maternal deaths.
“In 2022, we recorded seven maternal deaths; in 2023, it dropped to three, while we registered not a single death in 2024. This year, we’ve had zero deaths so far,” he said.
With up to 300 cesarean births per month, HBF has helped the centre procure vital equipment, including– ultrasound machines, dental kits and chairs, maternity and surgical beds, improved laboratory infrastructure and furniture and delivery equipment.
“We’ve also used the funds to train nurses in maternal care and to offer free reproductive and child health services,” Dr Lwambano added.
The centre is also making initiatives to tackling malnutrition in Gairo District. Ms Biusmart Juma, a nutrition officer at Gairo Health Centre, underscored the fund’s role in addressing child malnutrition, saying they track the affected children under the age of five deep into the villages and provide critical services to improve their condition.
“We use HBF to buy milk for malnourished children and support outreach services to remote areas. Our ‘Health and Nutrition Month’ programme provides Vitamin A and deworming medication to all children in the district.”
She revealed that data collected in Gairo District last year shows stunting rate stands at 0.9 per cent, while the underweight rate is 0.3 per cent.
“Though relatively low, we are actively identifying and supporting affected children. Through HBF, we prepare special milk using ingredients like milk, flour, sugar and oil.”
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are also engaged to identify and refer malnourished children during outreach visits.
At Kisitwi Dispensary located in Kisitwi Ward of Gairo District, Clinical Officer Juma Ntemi explained how HBF has improved maternal and child health services.
“We’ve used the fund to mobilise women and now many attend our clinics regularly. Previously, we struggled with medicine availability, now, supplies are stable,” he said.
Thanks to the fund, a new laboratory was constructed, the only one in Gairo’s dispensaries. Overtime allowances are also paid to staff for outreach services in villages like Muheza and Ititu according to Dr Ntemi.
At Mvomero District Hospital, Nurse Gracian Ulomi, who oversees the Neonatal Infectious Room is pleased with the advanced neonatal care at the facility.
“We now have three neonatal beds, two incubators and phototherapy units for preterm or underweight babies. Previously, we had to refer such cases to the regional hospital.”
She also praised the Samia Medical Outreach Programme, through which visiting specialists train local staff every three months.
“We even have an ambulance now, which has made it easier to serve pregnant women. The HBF has truly improved neonatal care and public perception of healthcare in our district.”
Damali Mwanguka, a mother of three from Kiswiti Village, expressed her gratitude, saying improved health services has brought major relief to citizens of the surrounding villages.
“This dispensary has been a blessing. Pregnant mothers no longer need to travel far for delivery, vaccination, or Vitamin A drops,” she notes.
A resident of Mvomero Ms Mariam Hassan added: “We are welcomed with respect. Bed shortages used to be an issue, but not anymore. Medicines and equipment are available.”
Thomas Sagani, another resident of Mvomero, recalled past challenges: “We used to travel to Morogoro Town for services. It was hard, especially for pregnant women who had to use unsafe motorcycles. Now we even have an ambulance.”
The success stories from Gairo and Mvomero offer compelling evidence of how strategic funding—when wellmanaged—can bring equitable, accessible and high-quality health services even to rural and underserved communities.
As Tanzania continues to scale the HBF model, these districts serve as a blueprint for how decentralised healthcare financing can drive real, measurable change.
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