Thursday, 30 April 2015

Exclusive breastfeeding crucial for child growth

What is the first thing many of us do when we wake up in the morning? We may not proudly admit it, but we check our mobile phones first to check the time, and then we scroll through our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram newsfeeds to see what our friends are up to and get the breaking news of the day. We do all this, while we are still in bed.

As a 31-year old woman and mother, I realise just how lucky we are to be part of information or digital age or new media age, where we have access to information at our finger tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You no longer need to be affluent to get online. People from all walks of life and from almost all corners of the world have access to the Internet. This era makes the adage – information is power – realisable.
If well used, information from the net can impact positively on our lives through broadening our understanding on a wide spectrum of issues – health, economics, political and environment and the list is endless.
Yet, evidence shows that young women, especially mothers, are not taking advantage of the knowledge available especially on important issues like breastfeeding. It is not uncommon to hear young mothers say: “I cannot breastfeed, I don’t have enough milk”. Others would say: “I do not want to gain weight, I want to maintain my shape.” Really? At the cost of your baby’s health?See More

Reproductive health help in Rukwa most welcome.

The recent news that over 320m/- has been secured to support reproductive health services in and around the Lake Tanganyika region is heartening.
This is because the relief comes amidst bad reports that up to 25 per cent of the children  born in the region  die before they even reach five years of age.
The support has been initiated by the Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic ( LTFHC) currently operating in the Rukwa Region in order to reduce the region’s high birthrate and reduce the number of preventable  deaths occurring among women and infants.
The project will among other things provide medical accurate information about sexual and reproductive  health to over 100,000 local residents.
The endeavour, which is funded by Hivos International, a development  organisation  focusing on women empowerment, will provide  access to the contraceptives and one-to-one  counseling for thousands of women, as well as couples.
This is also good news because at the moment contraceptive and prenatal care is hard to come by in many areas in Rukwa Region.
Since childbearing often begins in the teenage years, lack of related reproductive health information and resources leads to an exceptionally high birthrate and as well as deaths among women and children.
We are told by experts that in some areas around Lake Tanganyika, up to 25 per cent of children are dying before their fifth birthday.
According to the LTFHC’s Chief Programme Officer, Dr Kate McLean many women are suffering from obstetrical fistula and subsequent social isolation as a result of going through obstructed labour without medical assistance.
The expert notes that many births take place in ultra-rural areas along the lakeshore with only traditional birth attendants present but in many cases  with no professional assistance .
We feel as the custodians of this project the programme will not only empower local women to take control of their reproductive health and plan for pregnancy and birth, but also save lives of those involved.
It is known that the region is in many parts inaccessible and lacks infrastructure making it a major obstacle to provision of adequate healthcare.
 It is a common fact that the reproductive health burden on women in Tanzania is very high. Recent surveys suggest that the average Tanzanian woman has 5 to 7 children during her lifetime, and that over half of all women deliver at home, without any access to skilled birth care. 
Around 10,000 maternal deaths are recorded each year – more than one per hour. For every woman who dies during child birth, another five live with chronic illness or permanent disability. 
Only one in five women currently use modern contraceptive method, even though over half of married women report that they would like to begin using one.
We therefore appreciate  the efforts by  Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic for delivering vital healthcare, medical supplies to neglected  and inaccessible communities living around the Lake Tanganyika Basin. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Muuguzi aliyemchapa viboko mjamzito asakwe

Katika toleo letu la jana kulikuwa na habari iliyomuhusu mwanamke mmoja wa Dodoma ambaye alikuwa amepelekwa kituo cha afya cha Muungano wilayani Chamwino kwa ajili ya kujifungua, lakini akakutana na vitendo vya kikatili vilivyochangia mtoto afie tumboni.
Kwa mujibu wa habari hiyo, muuguzi aliyekuwa zamu siku hiyo aliamua kumchapa viboko mjamzito huyo baada ya kumuona anashindwa kujikakamua ili kumsukuma mtoto atoke na alikuwa akifanya hayo akidai kuwa mwanamke huyo ni mzembe na anadeka ndio maana alikuwa anashindwa kujifungua.
Muuguzi mkuu wa Hospitali ya Mkoa wa Dodoma alikiri kuwapo kwa taarifa za mama huyo kuchapwa viboko akiwa chumba cha kujifungulia na kwamba wameagiza uchunguzi ufanyike ili kupata taarifa sahihi za tukio hilo na hatua zichukuliwe.
Wakati uchunguzi huo ukifanyika, hatutaki kuamini kuwa kifo cha mtoto huyo kimesababishwa na kupigwa kwa mama yake, lakini kinachotushangaza ni jinsi mama huyo alivyoshughulikiwa hadi kupoteza kiumbe hicho alichokitunza tumboni kwa miezi tisa.
Muuguzi huyo ni mmoja tu kati ya wengi ambao wamekuwa wakiwafanyia vitendo visivyo sahihi wagonjwa wanapoenda hospitalini kwa ajili ya kupata tiba, hasa wajawazito ambao hulundikiwa mzigo wa maneno kuanzia wanapofika hadi wanapojifungua. Imekuwa ni kawaida kwa kina mama wajawazito kusimangwa, kutolewa maneno machafu na kucheleweshewa huduma na matokeo yake baadhi hujikuta wakipoteza watoto na wengine kulazimika kujifungua kwa kufanyiwa upasuaji.
Wengine wamekuwa wakilalamika kuwa wauguzi huwaomba rushwa na wasipotoa, hufanyiwa vitendo hivyo vya kikatili na kudhalilisha.
Mambo hayo husababisha wanawazito wanaoishi kwenye maeneo ya nje ya miji, kuona ni heri kujifungulia majumbani au kwa waganga wa jadi ambako wanaona hakuna unyanyasaji kama wanaofanyiwa hospitalini na matokeo yake hukumbana na athari kubwa zaidi.
Tunatambua kuwa wauguzi wanafanya kazi katika mazingira magumu kutokana na Serikali kutotenga fedha za kutosha kwenye sekta hiyo, lakini hatuamini kuwa hali hiyo ndiyo inayosababisha wauguzi wafanye vitendo vya unyanyasaji kwa wagonjwa, na hasa wajawazito.
Tunaamini kuwa katika mazingira hayo magumu, bado wauguzi wanaweza kuonyesha moyo wa upendo, kufanya kazi kwa weledi na maadili angalau kwa kiwango kinacholingana na mazingira waliyonayo ili juhudi za kuhimiza kina mama wajifungulie hospitalini au kwenye vituo vya afya zizae matunda.
Itakuwa ni kitu cha ajabu kama Serikali inapiga kelele kuhimiza wananchi kwenda kwenye vituo vya afya au hospitalini wakati wauguzi nao wanafanya vitendo ambavyo vinakatisha tamaa wananchi kwenda sehemu hizo.
Wakati mama huyo akiendelea kupata matibabu kwenye Hospitali ya Mkoa ya Dodoma, ni vizuri kwa uongozi wa mkoa kufanya uchunguzi wa kina kama ulivyoahidi ili kupata taarifa sahihi za tukio hilo lililotokea Aprili 3 mwaka huu, takriban siku 20 zilizopita.
Imekuwa ni kawaida kwamba tukio lolote baya likiripotiwa na vyombo vya habari, wahusika huwa wepesi kusema wanafuatilia kupata taarifa kamili na wanapoona hali imepoa, nao wanachana nalo na hakuna hatua zinazochukuliwa. Matokeo yake ni vitendo hivyo kuendelea kuwa sugu.Kwa habari zaidi

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Kiganja cha mtoto albino wa Rukwa chapatikana Mbozi

Kiganja cha mtoto Baraka Cosmas (6) mwenye ulemavu wa ngozi (albino) kilichokatwa Machi 8 kwenye Kijiji cha Kipeta, Sumbawanga Vijijini kimepatikana mwishoni mwa wiki wilayani Mbozi.

Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Mbeya, Ahmed Msangi alisema juzi mjini hapa kwamba kiganja hicho kilipatikana kutoka kwa mkazi wa Kijiji cha Malonje, Sajenti Kalinga (54) ambaye anafanya kazi ya useremala.
Alisema awali, polisi walimkamata mganga wa kupiga ramli aliyemtaja kwa jina la Gunela Shinji wa Kijiji cha Kipeta kuwa ndiye aliyehusika kukata kiganja hicho.
Alisema baada ya kumbana mganga huyo alimtaja Kalinga kwamba ndiye aliyemtuma kuleta kiganja hicho cha mtu mwenye ulemavu wa ngozi (albino).
“Tulimbana mtuhumiwa akatueleza kuwa aliyemtuma kiganja hicho ni Sajenti Kalinga kwa dau la Sh100 milioni,” alisema Msangi.
Kamanda Msangi alisema mtuhumiwa Shinji aliwapeleka polisi hadi kwa mteja wake huyo na kufanikiwa kumkamata.
“Polisi walifika nyumbani kwa mtuhumiwa Kalinga na walipomhoji kwa kina, alikitoa kiganja hicho na kuwakabidhi.”
Alisema hadi juzi, watu sita walikuwa wanashikiliwa kwa tuhuma za kuhusika na tukio hilo wakiwamo waliokamatwa mwaka jana na wengine mwaka huu.
Wanaoshikiliwa ni baba wa mtoto huyo, Cosmas Lusambo, mganga wa jadi, Miambo Kameta; Shinji na Kalinga.
Mtoto Baraka Cosmas aliyekatwa kiganja hicho amelazwa katika Hospitali ya Rufaa Mbeya akiendelea na matibabu chini ya uangalizi wa mama yake Prisca Shaaban (28) ambaye sasa ana watoto watano, wanne kati yao wakiwa albino.
Mama huyo alisema amepata taarifa za kukamatwa kwa watuhumiwa hao na kwamba ingawa hajui masuala ya kisheria, anaamini Serikali itachukua hatua stahiki kwa watakaobainika kuhusika.
Msangi alisema watuhumiwa hao watafikishwa mahakamani mkoani Rukwa wakati wowote.Kwa Habari Zaidi

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Mbeya police arrest three people over alleged possession of a human hand.

Police in Mbeya Region are holding three people allegedly in possession of  a human hand which is believed to have been chopped from a child with albinism. 
 
The suspects were arrested last Sunday evening at Malonje village in Mbozi District.
 
Mbeya Regional Police Commander, Ahmed Msangi said the human hand is suspected to be chopped from a five years boy, Baraka Cosmas (5) whose hand was cut by unknown people on March 8, this year at Chipeta village in the same district.
 
Msangi named the suspects as Sajenti Kalinga (54) carpenter from Malonje village, Mnela Simji and Mihambo Kamata, both from Sumbawanga District in Rukwa Region.
 
He said their arrest follows information from other three suspects including a traditional healer who was arrested soon after the attacks of Baraka Cosmas last month.
 
“We arrested them after the traditional healer told us on their whereabouts…he is the one who ordered them to bring the hand of the child,” said Msangi.
 
Last month, a court in Geita region sentenced to death four men for the killing of Zawadi Magindu in 2008 at Nyamaruru village. They were found guilty of attacking her and cut her limbs and right hand with an axe and a machete.
 
The husband of a 32-year-old woman with albinism was among the four men who were sentenced to death. They are Nassoro Charles, a resident of Beda Village in Kagera Region, Masaru Kahindi of Nyamaruru village in Geita Region, Ndahanya Lumola whose origin could be established and Singu Nsiantemi from Kakoyoyo village in Bukombe District, Shinyanga Region.
 
Tens  with albinism have been killed countrywide between 2007 and 2015. The sentence was the first of cases related to albino killings in Geita and the 16th nationwide. Between 2009 and 2011, 11 people were sentenced to death in connection with PwA killings.
 
On March 24 this year Police in Muleba District, Kagera Region were holding two people found in possession of human bones that belonged to a person with albinism (PWA) killed almost a decade ago.
 
 Confirming the arrest, Regional Police Commander Hennry Mwaibambe said the human remains date as far back as nine years ago.
 He also named the accused as James Lutozi (66) and Emmanuel Karoli (50) both residents of Kyota village in the district.
 
 “The arrest followed a tip off from good citizens who informed police of people trying to sell off body parts of a person with albinism for 3m/-,” he explained.
 
 Mwaibambe said the police managed to arrest the suspects on March 20, this year at their homes where the subsequent search of the premises resulted in the recovery of the bones.
 
 "After being interrogated the suspects admitted that the bones were of a person with albinism who died in 2006 in Rushwa village in Muleba District,” the RPC said.
 
 He further said that the suspects also admitted to have exhumed the remains back in 2008 under the directives of a witchdoctor.
 
“They identified the remains to have belonged to one Zeulia Justus who died shortly after she delivered,” the RPC went on to explain.
 He was keen to point out that the police are currently working to verify that the remains are of the said person and from the said year.
 
  “So we requested a permit from the court to exhume the tomb,” he said and noted that the exercise was conducted  last Monday and it has been confirmed that indeed the recovered bones were removed from Justus’s body.
 
 “We have now launched a manhunt for the witchdoctor known as Mutalemwa Revocatus,” the RPC said.
 
The development comes but months after police in Simiyu Region embarked on a crackdown in connection to ongoing killings of People with Albinism.
 
 Several dozen witchdoctors were subsequently arrested however Simiyu Regional Commissioner Eraston Mbwilo only last week ordered them released.
 
 Following the release, Simiyu Regional Police Commander Charles Mkumbo gave all traditional healers in the region a one-month ultimatum to register their businesses with the relevant authorities or face the law. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
 

Specialist demands increased investment in anti-malaria war.

Stakeholders are reminded on the need to increase investment in malaria particularly in the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment against malaria in pregnancy (IPTp).
 
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian recently in Dar es Salaam, Amref Acting Country Director Dr. Rita Norona described IPTp as a very cost effective intervention method that has the potential to save many maternal and neonatal lives. 
 
She said with more investment, much more success will be assured, hence the theme for 2015 is appropriately; ‘Invest in the future, Defeat malaria.’
 
“This is especially important as we enter a new era of development and with new Sustainable Goals set for the post 2015 strategy including elimination of malaria from a further 35 countries by 2030,” she added.
 
Dr. Norona pointed out that despite ongoing initiatives to fight malaria, the disease caused about 584,000 deaths to children in Africa in 2013 alone and to date,  an African child dies every minute from malaria resulting in the death of almost half a million children below five years of age.
 
 “The coverage of IPTp is still very low because only 15 million out of 35 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa receives a dose of the preventive treatment (IPTp) in 2013,” she said calling for concerted efforts to scale up its use to save the lives of expectant mothers and children.
 
Norona insisted that there is need to invest in diagnostic tests to ensure treatment is given for confirmed malaria cases as recommended. 
 
In this regard, she said sub-Saharan Africa countries are of special concern as they are characterised by high levels of malaria transmission and widespread insecticide resistance. 
 
“Stronger malaria surveillance systems are needed to enable a timely and effective malaria response in endemic regions, to prevent outbreaks and resurgences and to track progress,” she urged.
 
“A vaccine against malaria would go a long way in the fight against malaria, hence the need for acceleration towards getting one,” she emphasised. 
 
Nonetheless, the Director explained that concerted effort and investment over the years have led to significant progress towards the elimination of Malaria. 
 
She said Amref Health Africa is implementing programmes that are contributing to the elimination of malaria in Africa. She said Amref has renewed its commitment to work with the government, development partners and civil society organisations to achieve this goal.  
“We also support countries to scale up implementation of the evidence based high impact interventions such as ITTP,” she said. 
 
Dr Norona went on to emphasise that Amref Health Africa urges governments and development partners to ensure universal coverage of quality diagnostics and treatment services to those in need and to invest in routine monitoring of anti-malarial drug resistance. 
 
“They must also avail funds for the development of new, alternative insecticides for use on bed nets and they must likewise support acceleration of the development of a malaria vaccine,” she concluded. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Friday, 24 April 2015

Education stakeholders for impregnated girls returning to school after delivery.

Education stakeholders in Arusha are of the view that impregnated schoolgirls should be allowed to return to school after delivery.
 
They aired their views recently when speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held in Arusha attended by over 1,000 participants from Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya.
 
Speaking at the event,  Arusha Regional Educational Officer (Academic), Kabesi Kabeja, cited the need for government to review the related law.
 
“Girls who get pregnant while in schools should be given another chance,” he urged.
 
“We must relook at the current law that prohibits schoolgirls from resuming classes even after delivering,” he said.
 
“The law humiliates and denies the girls their right to education…it is time for the government to work on this law because it is oppressive,” he asserted.
 
He emphasized the need for laws to reflect current needs of society, rather than embracing outdated practices.
 
“We can even look at how our neighbours deal with this matter…for instance, Kenya’s laws allow impregnated girls to go back to school after delivering and it has proved to be effective,” he said.
 
“Tanzania’s laws don’t provide room for such girls to enjoy their right to education after delivering, instead they are being chased out of school for good,” he decried.
 
In attendance was an official from Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA), Wintred Mbinyasila who said teachers must deliberate challenges facing the education sector and exchange views on how to improve the sector across the region. 
 
 “Our law allows a girl who was impregnated while in school to go back after delivery and it has been effective,” the official said and pointed out that the law there also assigns hefty punishment on those who impregnate the schoolgirls.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Rukwa floating clinic awarded 320m/- for reproductive health.

Over 320m/- has been secured to support reproductive health services in and around the Lake Tanganyika region.
 
The relief comes amidst disconcerting reports that up to a quarter of children born there die before they even reach five years of age.
 
The initiative is the brainchild of the NGO, the Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic (LTFHC) that is operating in Rukwa Region to address the region’s high birthrate and reduce the number of preventable deaths occurring among women and infants.
 
Funded by Hivos International, a development organisation focused on women empowerment, the project will provide medically accurate information about sexual and reproductive health to over 100,000 local residents.
 
It will also afford free access to contraceptives and one-on-one counseling for hundreds of women, as well as couples.
 
“At the moment, contraceptive and prenatal care is non-existent in many areas in Rukwa Region,” observed LTFHC’s Chief Programme Officer Dr Kate McLean.
 
She went on to point out that since childbearing often begins in teenage years, the lack of related reproductive health information and resources leads to “…an exceptionally high birthrate and disturbing number of deaths among women and children.” 
 
“In some areas around Lake Tanganyika, up to 25 per cent of children are dying before their fifth birthday,” she said. Notably that is a quarter of the children born in the lake zone die before they are five years old.
 
“Many women are suffering from obstetrical fistula and subsequent social isolation and all as a result of going through obstructed labour without medical assistance,” she said.
 
“Many births take place in ultra-rural areas along the lakeshore with only traditional birth attendants present but in many cases with no professional help at all,” Dr Kate McLean detailed.
 
“This programme will not only empower local women to take control of their reproductive health and plan for pregnancy and birth, it will save lives,” she said.
 
She decried the region’s inaccessibility and lack of infrastructure which she said is a major obstacle to provision of adequate healthcare citing impassable roads particularly in the rainy season such as this. 
 
“The LTFHC will therefore work to establish a reliable supply chain for consumable contraceptives and bolster lakeside health services by training local medical workers on the provision of contraceptives and facilitating delivery of appropriate medical supplies, including intrauterine devices (IUDs) insertion,” Dr McLean explained.
 
She remained optimistic that  over time, reliable access to contraceptives and enhanced prenatal care should not only have a sustained and positive impact on the health of the local population, but also the region’s socio-economic standing. Dr McLean also took the opportunity to express profound gratitude to Hivos International for its support to the LTFHC's ongoing work to improve health outcomes for people living in Rukwa. 
 
Reached for comments, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Spokesman Nsachris Mwamwaja said the ministry welcomes the initiative and its contribution to the health sector citing that the government encourages private sector participation in socio-economic development issues. “The contribution of the private sector is very positive and is much needed as well…we welcome their participation,” he said. 
 
The Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic is an international NGO delivering vital healthcare, medical supplies and important communication hubs to neglected and inaccessible communities living around the Lake Tanganyika Basin.
 
Hivos International is an international development organisation with special interest in strengthening the social position of women in developing countries and has to date helped some 19.4 million people worldwide through its partnership programmes.
 
The vicinities of Lake Tanganyika are home to millions of indigenous and displaced poor across four countries, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi and Zambia. 
 
These populations are most easily reached by water based health care delivery, due to poor transport infrastructures. 
 
Consequently, experts report that may die of preventable or curable conditions like malaria, typhoid, measles, cholera, or obstructed labour. Maternal mortality in the region remains extremely high and large numbers of women suffer from a range of reproductive health related conditions such as fistula.
 
Concerns are also raised over the region’s cultural and traditional beliefs that more children give the family prestige and are a symbol of wealth. These outdated beliefs remain a hurdle to acceptance of family planning beliefs in the region.
 
“LTFHC staff is conversant with these issues and work directly with local communities to address them,” LTFHC’s Alisa Macleod explained.
 
“Obstetric fistula is a big problem around the basin due to early-age pregnancy and so it is worth noting that while contraceptives can help with family planning and reduce unwanted pregnancies, they can also significantly improve mother and infant survival rates and wellbeing,” she summed up.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Walimu wamchapa mwanafunzi, afariki

Mwanafunzi wa kidato cha pili katika Shule ya Sekondari Matui wilayani hapa, amefariki dunia darasani baada ya kudaiwa kuchapwa viboko na walimu watatu wa shule hiyo, kwa kile kilichodaiwa kufeli mtihani wa Kiswahili.

Polisi wilayani na mkoani Manyara, wanamshikilia mwalimu mmoja baada ya wenzake kukimbia baada ya tukio.
Akizungumza jana, Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kiteto, Kanali Samwel Nzoka alimtaja mwanafunzi huyo aliyepoteza maisha kuwa ni Noel Bichima (15).
Kanali Nzoka alisema tukio hilo lilitokea juzi asubuhi wakiwa darasani, wakati mwalimu huyo anayeshikiliwa na polisi alipokuwa akiwafundisha. Inadaiwa mwanafunzi huyo alichapwa viboko vinane. Haikuelezwa kama alichapwa kiganjani ama sehemu nyingine.
Nzoka alidai kuwa mwalimu huyo alimchapa marehemu baada ya kupata alama 40 katika mtihani wa somo la Kiswahili kwani walipeana mkakati wa kutofeli na kwamba mwanafunzi atakayepata chini ya alama 40 atachapwa fimbo 12.
“Mwanafunzi huyo alifariki dunia papo hapo darasani baada ya kuanguka chini alipochapwa viboko na walimu hao na mwili wake umehifadhiwa kwenye Hospitali ya Wilaya ya Kiteto ukisubiri uchunguzi,” alisema Kanali Nzoka.
“Natoa wito kwa walimu wa shule za msingi na sekondari, kuangalia namna ya kutoa adhabu kwa wanafunzi wanapokosea, baadhi ya watoto afya zao siyo nzuri,” alisema Kanali Nzoka.
Diwani wa Kata ya Matui, Athumani Kidawa alisema baadhi ya wazazi wa eneo hilo waliopatwa na hasira baada ya kutokea tukio hilo, waliandamana hadi Kituo cha Polisi Matui kulalamikia kitendo hicho.CHANZO; MWANANCHI

Watumia zebaki hatarini kuharibu mbegu za uzazi

Watanzania waliotumia kemikali ya zebaki (mercury) wakati wa kuchenjua madini ya dhahabu wengi wao watakuwa na mbegu za uzazi zilizoharibika maumbile yake, imeelezwa.

Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali, Profesa Samuel Manyele alitoa maelezo hayo alipoulizwa na gazeti hili kama ofisi yake inajua madhara ya zebaki na sababu za kushindwa kudhibiti kusambaa kwa kemikali hiyo iliyopigwa marufuku kimataifa. Madini hayo yanatumika kwenye machimbo madogo katika maeneo mbalimbali nchini.
Profesa Manyele alisema madhara ya zebaki ni pamoja na kansa na magonjwa ya ngozi na yapo mengine ambayo hayajitokezi mapema, lakini ni mabaya zaidi kwa vile uharibu maeneo muhimu ya mwili kama kupooza uti wa mgongo na kuharibu maumbile ya mbegu za uzazi.
Akizungumzia ugumu wa kuzuia kemikali hiyo, Profesa Manyele alisema ni sawa na ile ya dawa za kulevya na kibaya zaidi ni kuona halmashauri nchini zinachukua ushuru kwa watu wanaotumia kemikali hizo na pia Wizara ya Nishati na Madini nayo inatoa vitalu kwa watu wanaotumia kemikali hiyo.
“Kinachotakiwa sasa ni kwa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii pamoja na halmashauri na ofisi yangu tukae pamoja ili kuweka mkakati wa kuzuia matumizi ya kemikali hii,” alisema.
Wakati huohuo, kampuni zinazosafirisha au kutumia kemikali nchini zimetakiwa kuwalinda kwa udi na uvumba wafanyakazi wao ili zisiwaathiri.
Meneja wa Kanda ya Nyanda za Juu Kusini, Ofisi ya Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali iliyopo Mbeya, David Elias alisema hayo katika hafla ya kuwakabidhi vyeti wakurugenzi 17 wa kampuni mbalimbali zinazojihusisha na usambazaji na utumiaji wa kemikali.
Elias alisema pamoja na ofisi yake kuwa na utaratibu wa kuwapima damu wafanyakazi wao, pia itaandaa mafunzo kwa madereva wa magari yanayosafirisha kemikali. “Lazima tuwaelimishe hasa maderava ambao wako kwenye hatari zaidi,” alisema Elias.CHANZO: MWANANCHI

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Ajali nyingine ya basi yaua 10 Shinyanga

Jinamizi la ajali za barabarani zikihusisha mabasi zimeendelea kugharimu maisha ya Watanzania baada ya jana watu 10 kupoteza maisha na wengine 50 kujeruhiwa vibaya wakati basi la Unique Express lililokuwa likitokea Mwanza kuelekea Tabora kugongana uso kwa uso na lori la Coca-Cola lililokuwa likitokea Tinde kuelekea Shinyanga.

Ajali hiyo ilitokea jana saa 8.45 mchana katika Kijiji cha Ibingo, Kata ya Samuye, Shinyanga.
Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari kwenye eneo la tukio, Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Shinyanga, Justus Kamugisha alisema chanzo cha ajali hiyo ni mwendo kasi wa basi uliosababisha dereva wake kushindwa kulikwepa lori hilo lililokuwa katikati ya barabara.
Alisema watu tisa walifariki dunia papohapo na mmoja alifia katika Hospitali ya Mkoa wa Shinyanga akipatiwa matibabu.
Kamanda Kamugisha alisema dereva wa lori anashikiliwa na polisi mwenzake wa basi hali yake ni mbaya na amelazwa hospitali.
Alisema wengi waliofariki dunia walikuwa wamekandamizwa na vyuma hali iliyowalazimu kuomba msaada wa winchi kuliinua basi hilo na kuwatoa.
Kamanda Kamugisha aliwataka wananchi na abiria kutoa taarifa pindi wanapoona madereva wakiendesha mwendo ambao unaweza kuhatarisha maisha yao.
Baadhi ya mashuhuda wa ajali hiyo akiwamo Diwani wa Kata ya Samuye, Amos Shija walisema walishtushwa na kishindo cha kugongana kilichofuatiwa na kelele na vilio vya abiria.
Shuhuda, John Bundala aliitaka Serikali kuendelea kuwachukulia hatua kali madereva ambao hawazingatii sheria za usalama barabarani na kupoteza maisha ya watu wasiokuwa na hatia na wengine kupata ulemavu.CHANZO: MWANANCHI

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

NOTIFICATION OF DEATH OF CHAIRPERSON OF TANZANIA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION (TPHA) DR.ROBERT NTAKAMULENGA


We are deeply in grief and sad to inform you that our Chairperson (Elected on 31st Annual General Meeting, 2014), Dr. Robert Ntakamulenga,  has passed away while on official duties in America. He travelled on Saturday and was expected to get back to Tanzania on 28th April, 2015. Unfortunately his health condition changed on air; and after he landed in America he was admitted for care but later it was unfortunately found he passed on.

Currently the Association is in deep sorrows to lose a great person who carried in him great visions and positive ideas for Tanzania Public Health Association.

His contribution has been remarkable to the Association and the Nation at large in various life struggles and efforts to protect the environment in Tanzania. He shall be remembered always for his contribution to support Public health in Tanzania.

The Association will give updates on the burial arrangements as and when sourced from family and others close to the funeral.

May his soul rest in eternal peace

Yours,
Dr.Oberlin Kisanga
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Monday, 20 April 2015

Bodaboda zaua watu 220 siku 90

Wakati wimbi la ajali likiendelea kutikisa nchi, watu 220 wamefariki dunia kwa ajali za bodaboda nchini kuanzia Januari hadi Machi mwaka huu, Kamanda wa Usalama barabarani, Mohamed Mpinga amesema.
Kamanda Mpinga alisema hayo jana mjini Kibaha alipokuwa akifunga mafunzo kwa ajili ya madereva 1,000 wa bodaboda mkoani Pwani, yaliyofadhiliwa na Chama cha Wamiliki wa Vyombo vya Moto (AAT) kwa kushirikiana na asasi ya Fia ya nchini Uingereza.
Kwa mujibu wa kamanda Mpinga, vifo hivyo vimetokana na ajali 668 zilizotokea nchi nzima katika kipindi hicho cha miezi mitatu na ambazo zimesababisha majeruhi 618.
“Takwimu zinaonyesha kuwa mafunzo hayo ya madereva wa bodaboda, yamefanikisha kupunguza idadi ya ajali kutoka 1,449 zilizotokea kati ya Januari na Machi mwaka 2014, hadi ajali 668 kati ya Januari na Machi mwaka huu 2015,” alisema Kamanda Mpinga.
Katika kipindi hicho pia kumekuwa na punguzo katika idadi ya majeruhi wanaotokana na ajali za bodaboda kutoka majeruhi 1,304 mwaka jana 2014 hadi majeruhi 618 mwaka huu.”
Sababu ya vifo
Kamanda Mpinga alibainisha kuwa pamoja na idadi ya ajali na majeruhi kupungua, vifo vimeongezeka na hili limetokana na madereva wa bodaboda kutofuata sheria, kanuni na taratibu.
“Ukiangalia vifo vingi vilitokana na madereva kutofuata sheria, kanuni na taratibu na hasa kutovaa kofia ngumu. Sasa unaweza kuona kuwa bado tuna kazi nzito ya kuhakikisha vifo navyo vinapungua.
Kamanda Mpinga aliwataka madereva waliomaliza mafunzo ya awamu hiyo ya tano, kutumia vema elimu waliopata ili kushiriki katika jitihada za Serikali na wadau wengine kukomesha tatizo la ajali za barabarani.
Awali akimkaribisha kamanda Mpinga, Rais wa AAT Nizar Jivani alisema mafunzo ya madereva hao 1,000 wa Mkoa wa Pwani, ni mwendelezo wa mafunzo ya muda mrefu yaliyoanzia katika mkoa wa Dar es Salaam, ambako madereva 4,000 walihitimu.
Aliwataka madereva hao kuwa mabalozi katika vita dhidi ya ajali za barabarani ili kufikia lengo la kampuni hiyo kupunguza ajali kwa asilimia 50.
Mwakilishi wa Fia , Monalisa Adhikari, alisema taasisi hiyo ya Uingereza, itaendelea kutoa ufadhili wa mafunzo hayo kadiri mahitaji yanavyoongezeka.CHANZO; MWANANCHI

Friday, 17 April 2015

'Tanzania must act to promote access to clean, safe water

Tanzania has been urged to implement, as a matter of urgency, recommendations made years back on the fast-tracking of the supply of clean and safe to her people as per the UN’s resolution on the Human Right to Water.
 
The shift to the new approach to solving water problems is in line with the core value of the 7th World Water Forum – ‘Implementation’ – was declared here at the opening of the Forum earlier this week.
 
“For too long, countries have been discussing issues and suggesting solutions which they have been keeping in shelves. It is high time they took action to implement these solutions and translated their commitments to solve the water problems of their people into results,” said World Water Council President Benedito Braga during and exclusive interview with The Guardian in his office at the 7th World Water Forum  premises in Daegu.
 
He explained that the call for Tanzania and other development countries to change their approach to dealing with water issues follows a shift in the World Water Council perspective which now focuses on implementation of solutions through science and technology, among other things.
 
According to the President, participants in previous Forums discussed issues and went back to their respective countries. “They would meet again and discuss the same issues and new ones and then go back home to wait for another meeting after three years, as a result of which little was done to solve water problems facing poor communities throughout the word. Now we have to implement the solutions we suggest to these problems and developing countries must act accordingly in order to increase access to clean and safe water to their people and promote the UN Human Right to Water,” he explained, adding that the core value for this year’s Forum, Implementation, stresses the need to take action on agreed solutions.
 
On its part the World Water Council will follow up commitments by its members in Africa, Asia and Latin America and map their implementation so that achievements can be realised during the three year periods that members are given to implement solutions.
“In this Forum we have managed to set up a clear road map of action within the next three years.
 
There are areas our members must improve and each country has to do something towards access to water, water security and sustainable water supply,” he said.
 
The water sector stands out as the most severely hit by climate change. Many countries are facing water shortage due to reduced precipitation. Others are experiencing acute water pollution through environmental destruction and other causes. Generally no country has their water sector spared by effects of climate change.
 
 Asked what measures developing countries should take to cope with the situation, the President said that different countries can take different measures depending on the impacts the countries are experiencing.
“ But we have to act now in order to deal with climate change. And here I would like to differ with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences during which members focus mainly on mitigation and energy.  This approach will not make us succeed in coping with the effects of climate change,” he explained. “We must focus on adaptation because this provides resilience to communities. Adaptation actions must be grounded on water because when there is little or no rainfall a developing country’s GDP also decreases and when there is plenty of rainfall he GDP also rises,” he noted.
 
The President advised countries to invest in storage of water, citing the examples of Australia and Ethiopia which he said had adequate facilities to store water and use it for various needs when there is little or no rainfall in the countries.
 
To further the resolve of implementation, the Forum has introduced the Science and Technology (S&T) Process which includes the CEO Panel programme. The panel is designed to discuss visions of CEOs of the water industry around the world and set a direction for innovation in the water sector by sharing their insights for the future.
 
The 7th World Water Forum, the largest water-related event in the world is being held for six days, from April 12 to 17, 2015. It has attracted about 35,000 people from 170 countries in the world, including heads of government and state, ministers, international organisations, academia, businesses and civil society organisations.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Food in our schools: What are the facts?

The rigmarole to which Tanzanians are being treated in the saga about closure of several public boarding schools because of food shortage is surprising indeed.
 
As reported in our paper yesterday, more of the schools have been closed because their food suppliers have not been paid their dues for a long time. 
 
However, the government denied this fact, insisting that no school had sent students back home as a result of the problem.
 
Nonetheless, the fact of the matter is that even on Monday at least five such schools in  Kagera Region had to send students home after food suppliers suspended services demanding payment of their outstanding bills.
 
Confirming the payments made by the government was none other than the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (Tamisemi), Jumanne Sagini, hiimself. 
 
He said from July last year to last month, March, the government had paid the food suppliers each month without fail. As a matter of fact, he emphasised, in March it paid food suppliers a total of 8.4 billion/-, he told reporters.
 
We think that this seesaw does no one any good and, in fact, it is like washing one’s dirty linen in public. For, it is a fact that students have been sent home by heads of their schools because there is no food.
 
How could they go to classes or sleep in their dormitories on empty stomachs? Given this scenario, we think it was right for school heads to send them home.
 
The only mistake may be that the heads did not consult their bosses at the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training headquarters before taking that action.
 
But the fact remains that food suppliers had not been paid their dues for the food they had supplied to the schools. We tend to believe this fact because the school heads are sane enough not to send the students home for no reason.
 
It is well known that the government is indebted by many individuals and companies. This is notwithstanding the fact that if one wants to do good business, then he/she should do it with the government.
 
The government has all it takes for doing good business. Think of how many educational institutions, roads, bridges, buildings and other structures that it owns…the list is endless.
 
All these need to be serviced, but the government cannot do this all alone. It has to find assistance from somewhere, and thus the need to provide tenders to individuals and firms.
 
But winning a tender for providing services to government institutions requires one to have sufficient capital. This is mainly because of the red-tape (and corruption) involved in the process.
 
Worse still, payments from the government take very long; in fact too long that an individual or firm with small capital may end up being bankrupt.
 
We think this is what has happened with suppliers of food to the boarding secondary schools who claim not to have been paid their dues. The government should come out in the open and tell us the truth surrounding this saga. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Tarime authorities enforce ban on cattle auctions, open markets in face of cholera outbreak.

An indefinite ban on cattle auctions, open markets and local brew has been instituted in Tarime District, Mara Region after a cholera outbreak has left at least ten people admitted to the Utegi Health Centre in the region.   
 
The Rorya District Commissioner, Felex Lyaniva, explained that the measures have been taken in a bid to contain the disease which according to him has already affected a number of villages in the district.  The DC went on to call upon Rorya residents to be extra vigilant and observe high levels of hygiene and to boil drinking water without fail avoid contracting the disease. 
 
He said the most affected villages include Nyanduga, Mangore, Mika and Utegi in Bukwe and Koryo. 
 
Lyaniva detailed that, including the admitted ten, at least 20 people have contracted the disease since its outbreak early this month following the on-going rains in Rorya District. 
 
“All of them except the ten patients who are still admitted to the hospital in Utegi, have been discharged after their health improved,” he said.  He also pointed out that so far nobody has died of the disease but some patients are in critical condition and have been referred to the Tarime District Hospital. 
 
Rorya Member of Parliament Lameck Airo called for concerted efforts to contain the disease in the district and urged residents to heed advice from health personnel to avoid contracting and spreading the deadly disease.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Road accidents leave 100 people dead in a month.

At least 100 people died in road accidents and 138 were injured in one month, police have reported.
 
However, the force maintains that the rate of road accidents can be contained if members of the public cooperate with traffic police and other authorities by observing traffic regulations and reporting offenders.
 
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Traffic Commander Mohamed Mpinga specified that the said number of deaths and injuries occurred between March 11 and April 12 this year.
 
Mpinga went on to blame drivers and bus owners for not being collaborative saying bus owners and drivers are to blame for the increase of accidents and accused them of disregarding human lives for profit.
 
He said sometime a driver can be forced to speed so that he can arrive on time as result he ends up causing accident due to reckless driving and when arrested their owners bail them out.
 
He however noted that Tanzania National Road Agency (TANROADS) should also rehabilitate road infrastructures to allow smooth movement of the vehicles.
 
Mpinga said that in efforts to curb the accidents the traffic police have started to revoke the licenses of drivers who will  cause accidents and they will not be allowed to engage themselves in the business again.
 
The drivers should be carefully when they   overtake other vehicles and thus they will be able to avoid unnecessary road accidents, he said.  
 
He called upon passengers to report immediately to the responsible authorities in cases of  drunk  and reckless driving.
 
“We have proposed some amendments of laws which will increase penalties to reckless drivers… if enacted  will help to curb the problem,” he said.
 
Eighteen people were burnt to death and eleven others severely injured when a passenger bus collided with a truck last Sunday and police say the driver of the bus was to blame for reckless driving.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Lightning kills eight people in 2 Kigoma wards.

At least eight people, including six pupils, died on the spot while 15 others were injured after being struck by lightning in Kibirizi and Bangwe wards of Kigoma Ujiji Municipality.
 
According to eye witnesses, the two incidents occurred at around 11:00 a.m. when there was a heavy down pour that was accompanied by lightning.
 
The acting Doctor in Charge at the Kigoma Region Maweni Referral Hospital, Dr Fadhili Kabaya, confirmed receiving eight bodies of the deceased at around 1:00 p.m. and 15 injury victims. 
 
He said ten of the injured were discharged after being treated while others remained for further attention.
 
Dr Kabaya said among the deceased were six pupils of Kibirizi Primary School, four boys and two girls, aged between seven and ten years. Another deceased was a teacher at the school identified as Elieza Mbwambo (25).
 
The pupils were Yusuf Athumani (8), Hassan Ally (9), Walupe Kapopa (10), Shukrani Yohana (10), Fatuma Slay (7), and Zamda Seif (8).
 
Dr Kabaya said a resident of Bangwe ward, identified as Focus Ntahamba, 35, also died in a similar incident.
 
The Kigoma Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ferdinand Mtui confirmed the incident, saying:
 
“Although I am out of town and have no details, it is true that the incident occurred in the morning.”
 
He said he would make a press statement as soon as he has all the details.
 
On April 7, lightning killed five people and injured  18 others while an Easter Mass was in progress at a Tanzania Assemblies of God church in Chato District, Geita Region.
 
Geita Regional Police Commander Joseph Konyo confirmed the incident. He mentioned those killed as Daud Medard (20), Daud Lazaro (20), Saimon Marco (15), Haile Shija (20) and Monica Sumuni (19). 
 
He said four of the injured were admitted to Bwanga Dispensary, naming three of them as Mabula Mathias (8), Fabian Ezekiel (10) and Edina Leonard (21). He said the identity of the fourth was yet to be established.
 
The Doctor In-charge at the dispensary, Deogratias John, confirmed receiving the 18 injured people. He said 14 of them were discharged on the day they were admitted, but the remaining four were still being treated at the health facility. 
 
Further, on February 22, a similar incident occurred at a school in Kigoma where six children and a teacher were killed on the spot.
 
The incident, in which 11 students were injured, occurred when they were struck by lightning in their classroom following heavy rains.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Dodoma RC is confident food reserves are sufficient.

Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC) Chiku Gallawa, has assured Dodoma residents that the region will not face famine despite the fact that three quarters of their crops having prematurely dried up in the last farming season.
According to the RC, the citizenry had cultivated at least one million hectares but 820,000 of them dried up due to drought.
Speaking when she toured the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Dodoma zone, the RC said thanks to the bumper yields in the last harvest, Dodoma will not face famine. 
 
”Last year we had bumper yields and the government bought through NFRA bought enough grains. I have seen for myself at least 62,000 tonnes of grains including maize, millet and beans. Therefore, there is no need to panic…there will be no hunger,” Gallawa reassured the residents.
 
The RC also reassured stakeholders that the government will start taking action to ensure the prices of foods remain within the common citizenry’s reach. She said the NFRA will be slowly releasing the foods into the market to ensure price stability.
 
“There are 2000 tonnes of millet that are ready to be sold to the World Food Programme (WFP). The international organisation is satisfied with the quality of our millet. Also, we shall list businesspersons who can collaborate with the government in selling food,” Gallawa detailed.
 
For his part, NFRA Manager for Dodoma zone, Raymond Mpazi, said already they have paid 6bn/- to all farmer groups who sold their yields to Manyoni and Kiteto municipalities.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

MNH starts official treatment of coronary artery diseases.

Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) yesterday announced the beginning of official treatment of coronary artery diseases through stent implants into an artery, similar to angioplasty procedures.
 
It is expected that the service would be the first in the country to save the life of people at risk of dying through heart attack. The procedures started on Monday after two successful stent implants.
 
Prof Mohamed Janabi, the Cardiologist Specialist and Head of Cardiac Medical and Surgical Department, told a press conference yesterday that the service was assisted by a team of specialists from India and United States.
 
“We had equipment installed two years ago. However, it was unfortunate that we had to refer patients abroad for treatments that we could not undertake,” he said, noting:
 
“The team of specialists from Madaktari Afrika will assist in commissioning similar services for at least 18 patients. The specialists include four from Weill Bugando Medical Centre and retired cardiologist specialists.”
 
According to the doctor, patients who were earlier diagnosed with coronary artery diseases had three options-- take medication, referral or die.
 
He said with the facility’s operations, he was optimistic that it would reduce the number of Tanzania patients being referred abroad for similar medical treatment.
 
Apparently, he said, the medications were relatively reasonable as they could be compared with referrals conducted abroad.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

'No school in Arusha will be closed over food shortage'

Education authorities in Arusha yesterday confirmed that no secondary school will be closed because it is short of food.
Arusha Regional Educational Officer, Nestory Mroka, told ‘The Guardian’ here that boarding schools in the region have enough food.
 
His comment came barely a week after reports that a number of schools across Tanzania have indefinitely sent home their students after their food suppliers’ suspended services demanding payment of outstanding dues.
 
“I can confirm to you that there is no school that closed down because of the food shortage,” the REO maintained. He stressed that all students were in their schools.
 
 He said the government has released funds for students’ food and “schools are waiting for the money to be channelled into their accounts. This doesn’t mean that there is no food in schools; the food is there.”
 
The Head Master of Kisimiri Secondary School in Arumeru District, Emmanuel Kisongo, also attested that his school of 970 students had enough food.
 
He disclosed that his school spends eight bags of maize flour and two bags of beans per day “and we have enough stocks of food.”
For his part, the Head Master of Arusha Secondary School, Christopher Malamsha, said his school had received about 5,881,796.40/- from the Arusha City Council Director for boarding students.
 
“We receive this amount every month for similar purposes. This amount is not enough, but we are allowed to use 50 percent of students’ school fees,” he said, adding that his school had enough foodSOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Ukosefu wa chakula sasa wafunga shule za serikali.

Hali ni tete katika shule za kutwa za sekondari nchini, kutokana na kile kinachoelezwa ni kukosekana kwa chakula baada ya wazabuni kugoma kupeleka vyakula kutokana na kutolipwa fedha wanaozidai shule.
Kwa mujibu wa taarifa kutoka mikoa kadhaa nchini, kuwa baadhi ya shule zimelazimika kufungwa kutokana na kukosa chakula na kuwaacha wanafunzi wenye mitihani ya Taifa wa kidato cha pili, nne na sita.
Mkoani Kagera, shule saba za sekondari zimefungwa kutokana na ukosefu wa chakula na wanafunzi wa kidato cha kwanza, tatu na tano wakirudishwa nyumbani kwa muda usiojulikana.
Hali hiyo inatokana na wazabuni wanaotoa huduma ya chakula kwa shule hizo kutolipwa fedha wanazodai.  
Ofisa Elimu wa mkoa wa Kagera, Florian Kimolo, alisema wanafunzi katika shule hizo wameongezewa muda wa kukaa nyumbani wakati huu ambao serikali inatafuta ufumbuzi wa tatizo hilo.
Alizitaja baadhi ya shule hizo kuwa ni Rugambwa, Kahororo, Ihungo, Nyakato, Kimolo, Rukore, Kabanga na Muyenze za 
Wilayani Ngara na kuwa tayari wamepeleka taarifa Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Tamisemi) kwa ajili ya kupatiwa fedha za chakula ili wanafunzi warudi kuendelea na masomo.
 “Kawaida binadamu yeyote anahitaji chakula na kinapokosekana siyo rahisi kuendelea kuishi na kuwa kumbakiza mwanafunzi 
shuleni bila kumpa chakula kuna athari kubwa kiafya,” alibainisha na kuongeza.
 “Kuwarudisha nyumbani kuna athari maana kunapunguza siku zao za masomo na wanaweza wasifundishwe baadhi ya mada.” 
“Sifahamu lini wanafunzi hao watarejeshwa shuleni, lakini sisi kama serikali tunafahamu madhara ya tatizo hilo, ndiyo maana tunafanya kila jitihada ili warejee mapema iwezekanavyo” alisema.
Kaimu Mkurugenzi wa Manispaa ya Bukoba, Chacha Mwita, alithibitisha kuwapo kwa  tatizo hilo katika shule za sekondari za bweni na kuwa jitihada zinaendelea ili wanafunzi warejee shuleni mapema iwezekanavyo.
 Chacha alisema kuna madeni na kudai kuwa wazabuni hawajagoma kutoa huduma na kuwa kuna kikao kimefanyika na mawasiliano yanaendelea kufanyika ili waendelee kutoa chakula shuleni. 
Hata hivyo, hakubainisha kiasi cha chakula kinachohitajika kwa shule zote na kuahidi kutoa taarifa kamili siku zijazo.
Mkoani Dodoma, shule za sekondari za bweni zimefungwa kwa muda usiojulikana kutokana na ukosefu wa chakula kwa wanafunzi.
Taarifa zilizolifikia NIPASHE zinaeleza kuwa moja ya shule hizo ni Shule ya Sekondari Mpwapwa ambayo ilitakiwa kufunguliwa baada ya likizo fupi ya sikukuu ya Pasaka lakini mpaka sasa haijulikani itafunguliwa lini.
Mkuu wa shule hiyo, Nelson Mbilinyi, alisema wanafunzi walitakiwa kufungua shule siku tatu zilizopita, lakini hadi sasa wameshindwa kufungua shule kutokana na ukosefu wa chakula.
“Tulikuwa tufungue Aprili 8, mwaka huu, lakini hatujafungua hadi sasa chakula cha kuwalisha wanafunzi hakuna,” alisema.
 Alisema bado hawajajua shule hiyo itafunguliwa lini, lakini kitu ambacho anakijua ni kwamba leo kuna kikao na Afisa Elimu wa Mkoa.
 Katika shule ya sekondari ya Wasichana Msalato iliyopo, Mkuu wa Shule hiyo, Mwasi Chibuni, alisema shule hiyo haijafungwa isipokuwa hali ya chakula si nzuri. 
“Licha ya wanafunzi kuendelea na masomo, lakini hali ya chakula siyo nzuri na shule haijafungwa tunaendelea tuone tutaishia wapi,” alisema. 
Alibainisha kuwa wataendelea kujisogeza hivyo hivyo na kama watashindwa, watalazimika kufunga shule.
Katika wilaya ya Kondoa, kuna taarifa kuwa hali ya chakula katika shule ya wasichana ya Kondoa ni mbaya na inaweza kufungwa.
 Hata hivyo, Afisa Elimu sekondari wa wilaya hiyo, Lucy Gurtu, alikanusha kuwa hakuna shule iliyofungwa kutokana na uhaba wa chakula.
Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dodoma, Chiku Galawa, alipoulizwa kuhusu tatizo hilo, alijibu kuwa hana taarifa kwa sasa analifuatilia.
Mkoani Kilimanjaro, Serikali imesema itamchukulia hatua kali za kisheria, ikiwa ni pamoja na kumsimamisha kazi, Mkuu yeyote wa shule ya sekondari atakayebainika kushindwa kufungua shule kuanzia leo kwa kisingizio kwamba shule yake haina chakula.
Kaimu Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro (RAS), Alfred Shayo, aliiambia NIPASHE jana kwa njia ya simu kwamba, tayari wamepokea fedha kutoka Hazina, kwa ajili ya kuzihudumia shule za serikali.
“Kama kuna mkuu wa shule ambaye hatafungua shule katika muda uliopangwa, atachukuliwa hatua za kisheria kwa sababu Hazina 
iliyopo chini ya Wizara ya Fedha, imekwishaleta hizo fedha za chakula, ila kama zimechelewa kuwafikia wakuu wa shule, Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa haina taarifa hizo...Kwa maana hiyo shule zote zitafunguliwa leo kama kawaida.
Alisema ofisi hiyo haina taarifa yeyote ya shule za serikali mkoani hapa kubadili ratiba ya masomo baada ya kumalizika kwa mapumziko ya Pasaka kutokana na uhaba wa chakula.
Mkuu wa mkoa wa Kilimanjaro, Leonidas Gama, alisema anachofahamu ni wazabuni wengi kutolipwa fedha zao na kwamba hana takwimu za kiasi wanachodai na shule zenye uhaba.
Shule nyingine zilizofungwani shule ya wavulana na wasichana Tabora za mkoani Tabora, shule ya wavulana Nsumba mkoani Mwanza, shule ya wasichana Masasi, Ndanda za mkoani Mtwara na shule ya sekondari ya wavulana ya Songea, mkoani Ruvuma.
Mmoja wa wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari Ndanda ambaye hakutaja kutajwa jina lake, alisema wametakiwa kurudi nyumbani mwishoni mwa wiki kwa kuwa hakuna chakula.
Shule ya wasichana ya Tabora, mmoja wa wanafunzi alithibitisha kurudishwa nyumbani kwa wanafunzi wasio na mitihani ya Taifa mwaka huu, tangu Machi 24, mwaka huu, kutokana na uhaba wa chakula.CHANZO: NIPASHE

Serikali yaombwa ruzuku vyuo binafsi vya uuguzi, ukunga.

Serikali  imeshauriwa kutoa ruzuku kwa vyuo vya uuguzi na ukunga vinavyomilikiwa na watu binafsi, ili kuongeza idadi ya
wataalamu wa kada hiyo kwa lengo la kupunguza ama kumaliza vifo vya mama na mtoto.
 
Wito huo ulitolewa na Mkurugenzi wa Chuo cha Uuguzi na Ukunga Profesa Richard Lema, kwenye mahafali ya saba ya stashahada na ya pili ya cheti kwa wahitimu wa uuguzi na ukunga toka chuo cha Massana, jijini Dar es Salaam.
 
Profesa Lema alisema iwapo vyuo binafsi vitapatiwa ruzuku na serikali kama inavyofanyika kwa vyuo vyinavyomilikiwa na misheni, kada ya uuguzi na ukunga itapata watumishi wengi, hivyo kuisadia serikali katika kupunguza vifo vya akina mama na watoto nchini.
 
“Ni dhahiri hatuwezi kupunguza vifo vya akina mama na watoto bila ya wakunga wa kutosha kwani hawa ndio wadau muhimu wa kupunguza vifo vya akina mama na vitoto vichanga, na muhimili wa kutekeleza malengo ya namba nne na tano ya Milenia,” alisema.
 
Alisema tatizo linalovikumba vyuo vya ukunga na uuguzi vya watu binafsi kama hicho cha Massana, ni lile la wanafunzi wa fani hiyo kushindwa kuendelea kutokana na tatizo la ada, pale wafadhili wao wanapojitoa kutokana na sababu mbalimbali.
 
Alisema tatizo hilo linaweza kutatuliwa na serikali kwa njia tofauti, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuwaingiza walimu wa vyuo binafsi vya uuguzi na ukunga kwenye mpango wa mkataba na Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii.
 
 “Na hili linawezekana tukiwa kama wadau wa serikali, kwa sababu wahitimu wetu huajiriwa na wizara na kupangiwa kufanya kazi katika maeneo karibu yote nchini,” alisema.
 
Naye mgeni rasmi katika mahafali hayo, Profesa Paulina Meela, aliwataka wahitimu hao wakafanye kazi kwa kuzingatia miiko na maadili kama walivyofundishwa.
 
Jumla ya wanafunzi 23 wa Stashahada ya uuguzi na ukunga inayochukua miaka mitatu na wanafunzi 17 wa cheti cha miaka miwili, walihitimu mafunzo hayo.CHANZO: NIPASHE

Uhaba wa chakula shuleni kizungumkuti.

Kizungumkuti kimezidi kujitokeza katika suala la kufungwa kwa shule za sekondari za bweni za serikali kwa kile kinachoelezwa ni ukosefu wa chakula kutokana na wazabuni kugoma, baada ya serikali kutoa tamko ikieleza kuwa kuwa imelipa fedha za wazabuni hadi Machi, mwaka huu.
 
Katika tamko hilo, serikali inazikana taarifa zinazotolewa na baadhi ya wakuu wa shule hizo kuwa zinakabiliwa na uhaba wa chakula na kulazimisha kuzifunga.
 
Hata hivyo, licha ya kukana taarifa za wakuu wa shule zilizoathirika, serikali inathibitisha kuchelewa kutolewa kwa fedha za chakula za Machi, mwaka huu, ambazo zilipaswa kulipwa shuleni mwishoni mwa mwezi huo na kwamba kwa sasa zipo kwenye akaunti za halmashauri.
 
Kutokana na hali hiyo, serikali imewaomba wazabuni hao kuendelea kutoa huduma wakati serikali inafanya utaratibu wa kuwalipa fedha hizo ambazo zimeshafika kwenye akaunti za shule.
 
Kauli ya serikali imetolewa siku chache, baada ya baadhi ya wakuu wa shule hizo kueleza kuwa wameshindwa kuwaweka wanafunzi shuleni bila chakula na kuwataka kurudi nyumbani hadi chakula kitakapopatikana.
 
Katibu Mkuu wa Tamisemi, Jumanne Sigini, akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jana jijini Dar es Salaam, aliagiza Wakurugenzi wa Halmashauri, Manispaa na Majiji kuwachukulia hatua walimu hao kwa kuwa hawakustahili kutangaza kufungwa kwa shule, bali kuwasiliana nao (wakurugenzi) ambao ndiyo wenye mamlaka.
 
“Ninaposikia mtu anasema tumekosa chakula tunafunga shule napata shida, haiwezekani fedha ziende kwenye akaunti zao halafu wazabuni waseme hawajalipwa,” alisema.
 
 Alifafanua kuwa kwa kipindi cha Julai, mwaka jana hadi Machi, mwaka huu, serikali imelipa zaidi ya Sh. bilioni 28.1 (asilimia 66.7) za chakula kwa shule za sekondari za bweni, shule za msingi elimu maalum za bweni.
 
Alisema kwa mwaka 2014/15 fedha zilizotengwa kwa ajili ya chakula ni zaidi ya Sh. bilioni 42.1 na kwamba kiasi ambacho hakijalipwa ni zaidi ya Sh. bilioni 13.9 ambazo ni (asilimia 33.23) za kumalizia miezi minne iliyobaki.
 
Katibu Mkuu huyo aliweka bayana mchanganua huo na kiasi cha fedha ambacho kililipwa kwa kila mwezi kwenye mabano kuwa ni Julai (Sh. bilioni 3.5), Septemba (bilioni 3.5), Oktoba (bilioni 3.5), Novemba (bilioni 2.1), Januari (bilioni 3.5), Februari (bilioni 3.5) na Machi (bilioni 8.4).
 
Sagini alisema zipo taarifa za kufungwa kwa baadhi ya shule na mikoa yake kwenye mabano ambazo ni Rugambwa, Kahororo, Nyakato, Ihungo (Kagera); Lyamungo (Kilimanjaro); Mpwapwa na Abeid Karume (Dodoma) na Kazima, Milambo, Tabora Wasichana na Wavulana, (Tabora), kwa madai ya kukosa chakula.
 
“Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kuweka bayana kuwa wenye shule za sekondari ni mamlaka za serikali za mitaa ambazo watendaji wake wakuu ni wakurugenzi. Wakuu wa shule ni viongozi wasimamizi hawana mamlaka ya kutangaza kufunga shule kwa sababu yoyote bila kibali cha mwenye shule. Wakati wowote kunapotokea changamoto za uendeshaji wanatakiwa wafanye mawasiliano na wakurugenzi wa Halmashauri,” alisema na kuongeza:
 
“Ikumbukwe kuwa shule huendeshwa kwa vipindi maalum na kutokana na miongozo iliyopo, mwanafunzi anatakiwa kusoma darasani siku 194 kwa mwaka, kwa vyovyote vile idhini ya kufunga shule kabla ya tarehe zilizopagwa katika muhula, inatakiwa kutolewa na Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa baada ya maelekezo ya Katibu Mkuu Tamisemi.”  Katibu Mkuu huyo alisema hadi sasa serikali haijatamka kufunga shule na kwamba wakuu hao wamefanya makosa kwa kuwa hawakuwasiliana na mamlaka husika ili kupata kibali, na kama kungekuwa na sababu ya kufanya hivyo.
 
Akijibu maswali ya waandishi wa habari, waliotaka kujua kama Tamisemi imefuatilia kujua fedha hizo ziliingia kwenye akaunti za shule husika, kiasi cha madeni ya nyuma ya wazabuni, idadi ya wazabuni na lini madeni hayo yatalipwa, Sigini alisema wamezungumza na wakurugenzi wa halmashauri husika ambao wamedai kupeleka fedha kwenye shule husika na kwamba Wizara inafuatilia kama fedha hazikupelekwa Wakurugenzi watachukuliwa hatua stahili.
 
 Kuhusu madeni ya miaka ya nyuma ya wazabuni, Sigini alisema hawana kumbukumbu sahihi kwa wakati huu, lakini ni kweli wanadaiwa na kwamba serikali inafanya uhakiki wa madai hayo kabla ya kuanza kulipa.
 
Alisema kumekuwa na udanganyifu katika kuorodhesha madeni ya wazabuni hao kwa kuweka fedha nyingi ambazo siyo za kweli na ndiyo maana serikali imeamua kuhakiki kabla ya kulipa na mara zoezi hilo litakapomalizika watalipwa.
 
 Shule za sekondari zilifungwa Machi 28, hadi Aprili 12, mwaka huu, kwa ajili ya mapumziko na shule nyingi zilifunguliwa kati ya Aprili 08 na 12, mwaka huu.
 
Aidha, kutokana na uhaba wa chakula katika baadhi ya  shule waliongeza siku za likizo na kuna shule ambazo hazijafunguliwa hadi sasa.
 
Shule hizo zilizopo katika mikoa ya Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Kagera, Dodoma, Tabora, Mtwara na Lindi, baadhi ya wanafunzi walieleza kuwa baada ya kufika shule walitangaziwa kuwa hakuna chakula, hivyo wanaotakiwa kubaki ni wanaotakiwa kufanya mitihani ya Taifa.CHANZO: NIPASHE

Wajawazito waandamana kulalamikia unyanyasaji.

Zaidi ya akinamama wajawazito 70  katika kituo cha Afya cha Chikande, Manispaa ya Dodoma wameandamana hadi Hospitali ya Rufaa ya mkoa wa Dodoma kulalamikia mambo mbalimbali.
 
Malalamiko yao ni pamoja na kujifungulia njiani kutokana na kutembea umbali mrefu kwenda hospitali hiyo na baadhi yao kukataliwa kufunguliwa geti na walinzi wa hospitali wanapojisikia uchungu.
 
Martha Masine, alisema wameamua kuandamana ili kuwasilisha kilio chao kwa uongozi wa hospitali hiyo ili matatizo yao yatafutiwe ufumbuzi.
 
“Walinzi wa hospitali ya mkoa wamekuwa wakikataa kuwafungulia geti akina mama wanaofika hospitalini hapo usiku wakitokea Chikande na kusababisha baadhi ya wenzetu kujifungulia njiani na kuhatarisha maisha ya mama na mtoto anayezaliwa,” alisema Masine.
 
Alisema wamekuwa wakipata shida sana kufika hospitali hapo usiku, ingawa kituo hicho kipo nyuma ya hospitali.
 
“Tunaposhikwa na uchungu tunatembea  hata kama ni usiku ni hatari kutokana na njia kuwa ni vichochoro hadi kufika General (hospitali hiyo),” alisema.
 
Aidha, alisema wamekuwa wakisindikizana mmoja wao anaposhikwa na uchungu, lakini wanapofika hospitalini walinzi wanagoma kufungua mageti na kuwalazimu kurudi kituoni.
 
Alibainisha kwa nyakati mbili tofauti akiwa bado katika kituo hicho ameshuhudia akina mama wawili kujifungulia njiani kwa kutembea umbali mrefu kufuata huduma na mwingine kukataliwa na walinzi.
 
“Bado nipo katika kituo hiki nasubiria kujifungua, muda bado haujafika, lakini jamani sisi tunapata shida walinzi wa General wanapotukatalia kufungua mageti, huwa inatulazimu kuanza safari ya kurudi kituoni na kuna siku tukiwa njiani mwenzetu akajifungua tukamsaidia sisi tuliopo,” alisema Masine.
 
 Rose Atanas ambaye yupo katika kituo hicho akisubiria kujifungua, alisema changamoto nyingine ni kituo hicho kuzidiwa uwezo kutokana na kupokea akina mama wengi kutoka vijiji mbalimbali vya Mkoa wa Dodoma.
 
“Kituoni kuna kinamama wengi kuzidi uwezo wake, kituo kina vitanda 15 na hadi sasa kuna akinamama zaidi ya mia moja hali inayotulazimu kulala wawili wawili au watatu na wengine kulala chini na pia kuna wadudu watambaao kama vile kunguni na papasi,” alisema Atanas.
 
Alisema mbali na mrundikano huo pia unahatarisha afya zao na unatishia kuambulizwa na magonjwa ya kuambukiza.
 
“Pia tuna vyakula vyetu na kujipikia wenyewe kutokana na chakula tulichokuwa tukikipata kutoka hospitali ya mkoa kusitishwa bila ya kuambiwa sababu ya kufanya hivyo.
 
“Hapa tupo zaidi ya 100 kutoka wilaya mbalimbali za Mkoa wa Dodoma wengine tunalazimika kulala chini vitanda havitoshi, vyoo vyevyewe matundu yapo mawili na mabafu mawili yaani tukianza kuoga ni foleni na kwenda msalani ni foleni,” alisema Rose.
 
Akijibu malalamiko hayo, Muuguzi wa zamu katika hospitali hiyo, Sista Cesilia Sanya, aliwaahidi akinamama hao kuwa suala la walinzi kutofungua geti halitajirudia.
 
Hata hivyo, alisema hospitali imepokea malalamiko ya akina mama hao na walinzi waliobainika kufanya vitendo hivyo watachukuliwa hatua.
 
“Naomba niwahakikishie kwamba walinzi waliohusika kuwazuia watachukuliwa hatua kwa kuhatarisha maisha ya akinamama na watoto kwa kujifungulia njiani na hayo mengine nitayafikisha  sehemu husika,” alisema Sanya Kituo cha Chikande kilitengwa kwa ajili ya kuwalaza akinamama wajawazito wanaosubiri kujifungua  katika hospitali hiyo. CHANZO: NIPASHE