Thailand has successfully executed the UHC programme for its citizens and their package includes in-patient, out-patient and emergency care to all nationals.

The Government of Thailand has pledged to continue working with Kenya’s Health Ministry to leverage on achieving the Universal Health Coverage which is one of the significant pillars in the country’s Big Four Agenda.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Sicily Kariuki and her Thailand counterpart Emeritus Piyasakol, entered into a deal with Thailand so as to support in formulating the best service delivery package for the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan.

Thailand is now one of Kenya’s consultative and technical partners in UHC execution.

“We will work together with the Ministry of Health in Kenya to attain the full execution of UHC”, said, Piyasakol.

As part of the collaboration, already over 50 participants from Kenya have been successfully trained on Health Technology Assessment by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) in Thailand.

“UHC doesn’t only mean ‘financial protection’ but also more on universal entrance to comprehensive health services”, commented, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Health, Supakit Sirilak.

He further continued saying “they started their journey to attaining UHC by developing a health system that makes sure the universal access to vital health services”.

Motivation of health workers and equipping all levels of hospitals with necessary medical equipment is also said to be a plan they applied.

The South East Asian country is just about the same land mass and population as Kenya and they have achieved this important milestone in health, even though having a low gross national income per capita at the time they started their journey back in 2002.

“The country is on the right track towards achieving UHC, adding that they have so far recorded success in UHC piloting which is at present taking place in four Counties”, noted, CS Kariuki.

Besides this, from Thailand, Kariuki has also met with Cuban health minister, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi, Guinea Bissau and United Kingdom.

Already 100 medical specialists from Cuba have been imported in the country and posted to various counties.

This great help from Thailand will benefit Kenya in improvising their universal healthcare coverage.

East African digital health initiative will be launched next week and the launching will take place in Dar es Salaam during the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference and Health Exhibition.

Digital health initiative aimed to upgrade outreach of medical services in East Africa.
Digital Regional East African Community Health or simply Digital REACH is a process that helps bring together stakeholders from the region to improve health outcomes.

The health conference in Dar will be introduced by a forum for government leaders, lawmakers and legal experts from around the region.

The executive director of the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), Prof. Gibson Kibiki, said, “The forum will focus on the digital health initiative”.

He further continued, “It is a dialogue between bureaucrats and technocrats who will join the health experts to discuss health issues”.

The Bujumbura-based EAHRC was established in 2008 and was functionalised in 2015 as an institution of the Community.

The conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre will be themed; “Technology for Health Systems Transformation and accomplishment of the UN Sustainable Goals”.

It is assigned and aimed to promote, smoothen and coordinate health and health-related research for the well being of the people of East Africa.

Kijenzi engineer Alenna Beroza, is developing solutions to deliver medical equipment using a surprising method — 3D printing.
There has been certain huge challenges in bringing health care to those in need like broken machinery, outdated supply chains and a limited access to specialty equipment and these challenges leaves Kenyan clinics with various critical challenges and therefore Kijenzi is hoping to change that.

Kijenzi, who are grown in the Penn State College of Engineering, Kijenzi’s original intention was to create an easily moveable 3D printer to quickly produce health equipment like braces, clamps and vacuum pumps at low cost.

By working in the Kenyan community, the inventors soon become fully aware that the lack of 3D printers wasn’t the problem. What was really required was entrance to the CAD design files needed to print the equipment.
This changed the teams’s aim and focus from printing to developing a system that allows hospitals to have permission to these files and to trained people to print the parts.

Clinics in Kenya using the Kijenzi system can now produce or “print” the equipment and instrument they need and when they need it.

Director of the Penn State Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program and the co-founder of Kijenzi, John K. Gershenson, said, “Our customers are health care facilities that don’t have permission to the supply chains they require and over 40 percent don’t have the instrument needed to operate their patients. We bring the potential to locally manufacture what they need and when they need it. That is a game changer for permit to treatment.”

The Kijenzi venture team is using Penn State knowledge and expertise to bring 3D printing to rural Kenyan health care facilities. 3D printing can help these facilities manufacture and produce hard-to-get items like anatomical models, replacement parts, and job-related therapy devices.

The Kijenzi system has the ability and capability to impact many people lacking permit to necessary medical equipment in Kenya and around the globe.
Kijenzi has already had requests for nearly 400 different parts in its system. It has broad-reaching suggestions for medical education and other institutional uses as well.

After consequential testing and merging, Kijenzi is now preparing to launch an beginning program (its MVP) in Kenya this May.

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIT) to announce Health Insurance Packages soon.
The fund announced last year that it would launch new health scheme packages that would allow more people to join the health scheme depending on their financial capability.
This scheme is designed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Angela Mziray, NHIF Public Relations Manager, told the ‘Sunday News’ at the weekend that the process was in an advanced stage and it was expected to be closed this month.

Ms Mziray noted, “This is a huge plan, which will allow more people to join the health insurance scheme, particularly those, who were not able to acquire health services due to limited financial possibilities.”

She further added that the entire process had involved different authorities such as the Ministry of Health, Community Development Gender, Elderly and Children that also gave their views and opinions to improve the packages.
She, however, noted that views from various stakeholders were taken into consideration during planning for the new packages.

This process is now in final stages and we expect it will be closed early or late this month,” Ms Mziray demanded.

Ms Mziray said the introduction of the new packages was in accordance with the government’s intention to boost the health insurance cover to the majority of Tanzanians, who had been missing out on health services.

At a meeting with reporters in Dar es Salaam late last year, NHIF Acting Director General Mbaruku Magawa said the packages would provide a wide range of choices and options and allow Tanzanians to contribute depending on their financial capacity and extend the health insurance coverage.

He explained that the packages had been designed taking into consideration people’s needs, income and treatment cost, adding that the plan was set to take off soon.

“The packages will enable a person to decide whether to join as an individual or include a number of beneficiaries of his/her choice… this is very unfavourable because it broadens the choice of beneficiaries,” he noted.

A report released last year by religious leaders under the umbrella of Interfaith Tanzania, including the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Bakwata and the CCT advised that 64 per cent of Tanzanians had no health insurance cover.

Statistics show that 32 per cent of Tanzanians have health insurance cover, 8 per cent are members of NHIF, 23 per cent are members of Community Health Fund (CHF), whereas 1 per cent are members of private health insurance companies.

After NHIF comes up with suggestions it consults other authorities for further improvements.

NMB (NATIONAL Microfinance Bank Plc) Supports Chamwino Health Centres ny donating medical equipment worth over 10m/- to Membe and Handali Health Centres in Chamwino District, Dodoma Region.

The donations were encouraged by the government prioritizing health of its citizens in its agenda, said NMB Central Zone Manager, Nsolo Mlozi.

Mlozi also stated saying “We are struggling to see into it that in our part of our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), health institutions have enough medical equipment in their units.”
The Manager further said his bank has set aside one per cent of its income to accomodate local communities.

Handali Health Centre Doctor-in-Charge, Dr Enock Chitalasita, said the equipment would help about 7,376 residents from Handali, Mjelo, Chanhumba, Igandu, Nghahelezi, Miganga, Chinoje, Mgunga and Ndebwe villages to get reliable healthcare.

Dr Chitalasita further said his health institution also serves for the villages outside Mvumi Ward as far as other districts of Mpwapwa, Kongwa and Bahi.

However, Chamwino District Commissioner, Vumilia Nyamoga challenged the Health Centres’ managements to protect the equipment for the well being of the patients and other coming generations.

Vumilia Nyamoga thanked the bank for partnering with the government to help the local community.

CUBA has promised to maintain bilateral cooperation with Tanzania, besides agreeing to place 13 medical experts for specialised services at the Bugando Medical Centre (BMC).

The Cuban Ambassador to Tanzania, Prof Lucas Domingo Hernandez Polledo, said the two countries have enjoyed strong bilateral ties in history traced back to the founding fathers Julius Nyerere and Fidel Castro.

He also pointed out saying, “Cuba is glad to reclaim stable cooperation with Tanzania and the current spirit reminds us of the era of the two founding fathers and historical friends, Mwalimu Nyerere and Comrade Castro.
Our resumed relationship would be nourished in almost all beneficial sectors.”

He said the ancient relations between his country and Tanzania have been further joined by the recent decision by President John Magufuli, when he opened an embassy in Havana, adding that surely the gesture will further improve political and economic relations between us.

The Ambassador who was here for a number of official activities, among others, gave a visit to the BMC where the institution will soon receive about 13 Doctors and Nurses from Cuba to boost specialised medical services as areas with awful shortage of local experts.

Ambassador Polledo, said, Cuba has recorded impressive milestones in a number of sectors specially health and education, which it has been heavily investing since its independence.

He said Cuba with almost 11 million people has over 90,000 doctors, where one doctor serves about 3,000 people surpassing the ratio set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of one to cater for 8,000 patients.
Whereas, Tanzania has one doctor serving around 20,000 people.

This will help Tanzania to improve their healthcare services.

A group of Ethiopian doctors that consist of 35 newly graduates and 05 experienced doctors visited Asmara with an aim to provide free medical service.
The group is headed by Dr. Liya Tadesse, the Deputy Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and other government officials.

Ms. Amina Nurhussen, Minister of Health, specified that the Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have agreed to work together in all sectors aimed at strengthening the existing peace and friendship cooperation and that the coming of the medical doctors attests to that.

Minister Amina added further added “in Eritrea the Ethiopian doctors will have the opportunity to work alongside Eritrean doctors and exchange experiences.”

The Ethiopian medical doctors will provide free medical service for two months in the referral hospitals of the Central, Anseba, Southern and Northern Red Sea regions.

Dr. Liya Tadesse said that the historic peace and friendship agreement reached between President Isaias Afwerki and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is the biggest gift to the peoples of the two countries. Dr. Liya stated that this first cooperation in the health sector serves to the developing good neighborliness and far sighted relation between the two countries.

The Tanzania Food and Drug authority (TFDA) has made tremendous improvements in recent years in ensuring medicines in the healthcare system are of good quality, safe and produce the planned health benefit.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Tanzania is the first well beleifed country in Africa to achieve a well-functioning, regulatory system for medical products.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said, “This is a major African milestone and we are very proud of Tanzania’s achievement, which we hope will inspire other countries in the region. With this step Tanzania makes a big step towards improving the quality of its health care services.”

It is important to have a successful regulatory systems that also serve to promote timely access to quality medicines as Medicines are used to prevent illnesses and treat diseases, helping many people to lead full and productive lives. However, if produced, stored or transported improperly or used incorrectly then medicines can be dangerous and can lead to hospitalization and even death.
WHO and African governments have raised efforts to support the capacity of regulating medicines in the region.
Over the past years WHO has been supporting African countries, including Tanzania to boost their regulatory organizations.

The benchmarking of Tanzanian regulatory authorities was carried out in levels by a WHO-led team of international experts.
Tanzania FDA met all indicators that define a maturity level 3 agency, the second highest on WHO’s scale and the target for regulatory systems worldwide

Tanzania FDA has come a long way to becoming a well known leader in medicines regulation in Africa
The latest achievement means that medical doctors, pharmacists, chemists and technicians working for the regulatory authority hold the expertise and hands-on skills to evaluate medical products, prevent and check associated hazards and are able of protecting the public from substandard and falsified medicines.

It has been decided to conduct the vaccination against the Ebola disease for health workers.
This has been announced by the Government through the Ministry of Health, that the vaccination will target front line workers in the fight against Ebola.

As the widespread occurance continues to claim more lives in neighbouring DRC.
As neighbour to the DRC, Uganda is on high risk alert due to the high risk of the Ebola threat.

In August 2018, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It is currently affecting north-eastern province of DRC that border Uganda, Rwanda and south Sudan.

As of 1st November 2018, the DRC had registered a total of 285 increasing cases, 250 confirmed cases and total of 180 deaths.
Currently about 41 suspect cases are under investigation.

The two provinces that are affected are North Kivu – Mabalako; Butembo; Ocha; Musienene; Beni and Bingo and Ituri- Mambasa, Mandina, Tchomia.

The affected areas in the DRC are about 100km from the Uganda’s border districts of Kabaraole, Bunyangabo, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Hoima, Arua and Ntoroko.

The Search for active case continues in all communities, health facilities and in formal and informal border crossing in all districts, mostly in the high risk ones.

In order to prevent the spread of this disease, the trainings on case management have been conducted in 7 districts of Kabaraole, Bunyangabo, Kasese, Bundibugyo, ntoroko, wakiso and Kampala.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has again repeated that there is no confirmed case of Ebola registered in Uganda yet.
But this vaccination programme will help the front line workers to get the better services and treatment against the ebola disease.

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, pointed to the fact that JKCI had made significant contribution by reducing referrals of heart patients by 85 per cent.

TANZANIA is gearing to become a hub of high-tech cardiovascular treatment in East Africa and Sub- Saharan Africa through extension of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) at Mloganzila, which is envisioned to be a centre of excellence in the region.

Cardiovascular complications are among non-communicable diseases that are on the rise in Tanzania and elsewhere in the region and hence the need to expand JKCI to enable it to cater for treatment of heart diseases.

Prof Janabi stated that “All the drawings and proposal of the new hospital have been completed and submitted to the government of China and We are highly positive that they (Chinese) will support us in this project just as they did for the current facility”.
Prof Janabi made the revelation at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of China-Tanzania Cooperation in the health sector, which was held at the Embassy of China in Dar es Salaam where the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga, was the chief guest.

Dr Mahiga informed the audience that Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa had requested the President of China, Mr Xi Jinping, to support the expansion of JKCI during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in September, this year.

“Apart from the extension of the cardiac institute, we also requested our Chinese friends to enable us to improve our capability in manufacturing of medicines, medical equipment and training of personnel,” Dr Mahiga, who accompanied the PM at FOCAC, stated.

The planned new facility at Mloganzila, which will include a special wing for children, will have a capacity of between 280 and 350 beds, up from the current 128 beds at the current JKCI building, which is located within the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).
Apart from treating local patients, the current facility at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) extends services to patients from neighbouring countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda as well as Zambia, Malawi and the Comoros, among others.

Speaking earlier, the Ambassador of China to Tanzania, Ms Wang Ke, disclosed that over 2,000 medical practitioners have been dispatched from China, particularly in Shandong Province, to hospitals in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

During the commemoration, officials from the two countries also launched a programme called “Chinese Doctors’ Medical Visits Benefiting Tanzania,” in which medical teams will be dispatched twice every year to provide free medical services in rural areas.

The Envoy pledged support from her government to ensure that extension of JKCI is implemented. The Chinese government provided 16.6bn/- for JKCI, while the government of Tanzania provided funds amounting to 10bn/-.

Dr Mahiga expressed appreciation to China for continued support.