 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
 |
USAID Information:
External Links:
|
|
|
|
|
Tanzania Tackling Malaria, Maternal Health
FrontLines - October 2009
By Laura Ashbaugh
Although Tanzania boasts political stability and one of the fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, it still faces alarming maternal mortality,
rapid population growth, and widespread poverty.
USAID is assisting Tanzania in responding to these issues by helping to reduce malaria and HIV/AIDS, prevent
maternal deaths, expand agribusiness, and protect the environment, said Tanzania Director Rob Cunnane on a recent trip to Washington.
A major part of the USAID budget in the African nation of 40 million people goes towards health care, especially malaria eradication, HIV/AIDS programs, and improving
maternal and child health, he said in an interview with FrontLines.
A USAID program has been instrumental in assisting Zanzibar to reduce malaria by over 97 percent in just two years, he said.
"The malaria eradication
program in Zanzibar showed…we can have a significant impact in a fairly quick time period," Cunnane said. "It has given people a sense of what this program can achieve, and we’re working
to show that it can be replicated elsewhere."
Cunnane said that the mission
is expanding the malaria program throughout mainland Tanzania, and it is already having an impact in the northern
lake region.
Tanzania also faces alarming rates of maternal mortality, one of the highest fertility rates in Africa, and a very high unmet demand for contraceptives.
With a significant increase in funding recently, the office has begun focusing on improving maternal health care and strengthening family planning
methods and marketing for contraceptives.
USAID is working closely with the Tanzanian government
and civil society to ensure women stay healthy, are educated
about family planning, and have access to their preferred methods of contraception.
"In the last decade, it’s been dismal in terms of contraceptive prevalence, but with increased resources, USAID will be able to be a key player in family planning and maternal health," Cunnane said. "It’s a gender issue, and there has not been enough focus on maternal health in the country. We’ve got a long way to go."
Although Tanzania has remarkable economic growth, it’s often not felt in rural areas and one-third of the population
is still below the poverty line. To combat this, USAID is improving agribusiness in rural areas, which helps small farmers generate income.
In December, the first air freight solely dedicated to horticulture
exports took off from the northern city of Arusha to Europe. Previously, flowers and vegetables were flown out of Kenya, which was expensive and unstable. USAID helped farmers consolidate their crops for the air freight and set up private companies
to serve the growing horticulture
export industry, which involves 10,000 farmers.
"With flights full of fresh fruit and flowers now flying twice weekly from Arusha, there’s huge potential for this fast growing agricultural industry
in Tanzania," Cunnane said.
With the Agency’s Tanzania budget increased from $215 million to $260 million in 2009, Cunnane said he expects the next year to bring an expansion of the health and agriculture programs, along with efforts to improve food security and address the consequences of the economic crisis.
"One of the things I love about Africa is that, despite the tragedy of poverty and lost opportunity, you see a lot of this tremendous vibrancy and there’s a special joy," Cunnane said. "Once you’ve worked in Africa, it’s hard to work anywhere
else."
Cunnane said that U.S.-Tanzanian relations were strengthened by former President George W. Bush’s visit to Tanzania, a Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete becoming the first African head of state to visit President Barack Obama in the White House.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
To have FrontLines delivered
to you via postal mail, please subscribe.
Material should be submitted
by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
RRB, Suite 6.10, Washington, DC 20523-6100;
by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
To view PDF files, download
the Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Back to Top ^
|
