JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA

 

 

 

 

MWONGOZO NA MAJUKUMU YA MABARAZA YA WAZEE

NGAZI YA VIJIJI/MTAA, KATA, WILAYA, MKOA NA TAIFA

 

        Kwa mujibu wa Sera ya Taifa ya Wazee ya mwaka 2003.

(Uk. 16 Sura ya 3, Ibara ya 3.14-.3.15 na Uk.17, Sura ya 4, Ibara ya

4.1 – 4.4)

 

Maamuzi kuhusu mipango shirikishi ya maendeleo ya maisha ya watu yanafanywa katika ngazi za Vijiji/Mitaa, Kata, Wilaya, Mkoa na Taifa. Wazee ni miongoni mwa wananchi ambao mchango wao ni muhimu sana katika maendeleo ya Taifa letu. upo umuhimu wa kuweka utaratibu utakao hakikisha upatikanaji wa mchango wa wazee kuhusu maisha yao na ya jamii kwa ujumla. Ili kufanikisha azma hii, Sera ya Taifa ya Wazee (National Aging Policy–NAP 2003) inasisitiza kwamba

       “YATAUNDWA MABARAZA YA USHAURI WA WAZEE KATIKA

        NGAZI ZA VIJIJI/MITAA, KATA, WILAYA, MKOA NA TAIFA”

 

Hivyo, itambulike kuwa mabaraza ya wazee ni huru, si ya kiitikadi, kidini au ukabila na kila mtu mwenye umri wa miaka 60 na kuendelea ana haki ya kuwa mjumbe wa Baraza la Wazee.

 

        Namna – Mabaraza yanavyoundwa.

Ngazi ya vijiji/Mtaa

• Halmashauri ya Wilaya kupitia Watendaji na Wenyeviti wa Vijiji/Mtaa itaitisha mkutano wa hadhara kwa lengo la kuwabaini wazee wote.
• Kwa kushirikiana na serikali ya kijiji/Mtaa, Halmshauri itasimamia uundaji wa Baraza la Kijiji/Mtaa kwa kusimamia uchaguzi wa viongozi wa Baraza (Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi, Mtunza Hazina, Wawakilishi 2 (Me na Ke) katika Baraza la Maendeleo la Kijiji/Mtaa na Wafuatiliaji 2 (me na ke) wa masuala ya wazee (OPMGs-Older People’s Monitoring Group).

 

• Katika zoezi hili Mtendaji wa Kijiji/Mtaa atakuwa Mwenyekiti au Msimamizi wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wazee. Mwenyekiti wa Serikali ya Kijiji atakuwa Katibu na atawajibika kuandika muhtasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Kijiji/Mtaa.

 

• Nakala ya Mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Kijiji/Mtaa itakabidhiwa kwa Mtendaji wa Kijiji, Mtendaji wa Kata.

 

Ngazi ya Kata

• Halmashauri ya Wilaya kupitia Watendaji wa Kata itaitisha mkutano wa viongozi wa Mabaraza ya Vijiji/Mtaa yana katika Kata ambayo imeunda Mabaraza ya Wazee ya Vijiji/Mtaa (viongozi 9 kutoka kila Kijiji/Mtaa.

 

• Kwa kushirikiana na Serikali ya Kata, Halmashauri itasimamia uundaji wa Baraza la Kata na kusimamia uchaguzi wa viogozi wa Baraza ngazi ya Kata (Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu, Katibu Msaidizi, Mtunza Hazina, Wawakilishi 2 (me na ke) katika Baraza la Maendeleo la Kijiji/Mtaa na Wafuatiliaji 2 (me na ke) wa masuala ya wazee (OPMGs –People’s Monitoring Group).

 

• Katika zoezi hili Mtendaji wa Kata atakuwa Mwenyekiti au Msimamizi wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wazee. Afisa Maendeleo au Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii atakuwa Katibu na atawajibika kuandika mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Kata.

 

• Nakala ya Mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Kata itakabidhiwa kwa Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya na Mratibu wa Wazee Wilaya (Order People’s Focal Person).

 

Ngazi ya Halmashauri

• Halmshauri ya Wilaya kupitia Afisa Ustawi wa Wilaya kitengo cha Wzee Focal Person itaitisha mkutano wa viongozi wa Mabaraza ya Kata zote katika Wilaya ambazo zimeunda Mabaraza ya wazee ya Kata (viongozi 9 kutoka kila Kata)

 

• Kwa kushirikiana na Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii Kitengo cha Wazee (Focal Person), Halmashauri itasimamia uundaji wa Baraza la Wilaya na kusimamia uchaguzi wa viongozi wa Baraza la Wilaya (Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti Katibu, Makamu Katibu, Mtunza Haziina, Wawailishi 2 (me na ke) katika Baraza la Madiwani la Halmashauri.
• Katika zoezi hili Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri atakuwa Mwenyekiti au Msimamizi wa uundaji wa Baraza la wazee la Wilaya. Afisa ustawi wa Jamii –Focal person atakuwa Katibu na atawajibika kuandika mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wilaya.
• Nakala ya Mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wilaya itakabidhiwa kwa Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya Mratibu wa Wazee (Older People’s Focal ) na Mkuu wa Wilaya.
• Baada ya uchaguzi wa uongozi wa Baraza la Wilaya Halmashauri itapanga siku maalum ya uzinduzi rasmi wa Baraza hilo ambapo Mgeni Rasmi atakuwa Mkuu wa Wilaya.

 

Ngazi ya Mkoa

• Mkoa kupitia Afisa Ustawi wa Mkoa kitengo cha Wazee Focal Person itaitisha mkutano wa viongozi wa Mabaraza ya Wilaya zote katika Wilaya ambazo zimeunda Mabaraza ya Wazee ya Kata (Viongozi 9 kutoka kila Halmashauri Mkoani)
• Kwa kushirikiana na Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii Kitengo cha Wazee (Focal Person), Mkoa utasimamia uundaji wa Baraza la Mkoa na kusimamia uchaguzi wa viongozi wa Baraza Mkoa (Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu, Makamu Katibu, Mtunza Hazina, Wawakilishi 2 (me na ke) katika baraza la Madiwani la Wilaya.
• Katika zoezi hili Afisa Tawala atakuwa Mwenyekiti au Msimamizi wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wazee la Mkoa. Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii (Focal Person) atakuwa Katibu na atawajibika kuandika mhutasari wa uundaji wa baraza la Mkoa.
• Nakala ya Mhutasari wa uundaji wa Baraza la Wilaya itakabidhiwa kwa Katibu Tawala Mkoa, Mratibu wa Wazee Mkoa (Older Person’s Focal Person) na kuu wa Mkoa.
• Baada ya uchaguzi wa uongozi wa Baraza la Mkoa, Mkoa utapanga siku maalumu ya uzinduzi rasmi wa Baraza hilo ambapo Mgeni Rasmi atakuwa Mkuu wa Mkoa.

 

Umuhimu wa Mabaraza ya Wazee Kijiji/Kata/Wilaya na Mkoa

• Kushauri na kuishawishi Serikali na wanasiasa kuboresha huduma kwa Wazee na wategemezi wao.
• Kuimarisha utambuzi wa pamoja wa Wazee na kuwapa Wazee hali ya kujiona nao ni sehemu muhimu ya jamii.
• Kuajadiliana na wawakilishi wa Kikatiba na kujitolea kama wawakilishi wa mambo yanayohusu Wazee.
• Kuboresha mawasiliano kati ya Wazee na Serikali katika hali inayokubalika Kikatiba, Halmashauri/Manispaa, Mkoa, Idara ya Ustawi wa Jamii, Maendeleo ya Jamii, Afya, Polisi n.k.
• Kutetea masuala ya Wazee kwa Mashirika, Serikali, Taasisi za Kidini na watoa huduma wengine wowote.

 

Wajumbe

• Wazee wote wenye lengo la kutafuta kuboresha hali ya maisha ya Wazee wote katika Jamii.
• Kuwa wajumbe wa Uzee kulingana na umri. Kigezo cha kuwa Mzee ni kuanzia miaka 60. Japokuwa hii inaweza kubadilika kulingana na mazingira au mahitaji Fulani.
• Watendaji wa Serikali ambayo ni Wazee wanaoishi katika maeneo hayo wanaweza kuwa wajumbe kwa kigezo cha umri na si nafasi za Serikalini.
• Watendaji wa Serikali watakao alikwa wanaweza kuwa na sauti kama wajumbe wengine.

 

Uongozi

• Kila Baraza litakuwa na Mwenyekiti, Makamu wa Mwenyekiti, Katibu, Makamu Katibu na Mtunza Hazina. Nafasi hizi kupendekezwa na kupigiwa kura na wajumbe.
• Wajumbe wawili (me na ke). Hawa ni wakusanyaji takwimu (Older People’ Monitoring Group), Kero za huduma za Afya Kipato, haki mbalimbali za Wazee.
• Uchaguzi hufanywa siku ya mkutano wa uchaguzi kwa tarehe iliyokubalika.
• Ili Mzee aweze kuchaguliwa ni lazima apendekezwe na wajumbe na si kujipendekeza mwenyekiti.
• Viongozi ni lazima wawe Wazee wenyewe na ambao wanakubalika katika Kijiji na wenyenia hasa ya kujitolea kuwakilisha Wazee wenzao.
• Baraza litapendekeza kikundi cha watu wachache wmbao watawasilisha mapendekezo yao na mipango kwa wahusika.
• Kundi hili litakapopendekezwa linaweza kua la wanaotunza wagonjwa majumbani (HBCs), wafuatiliaji wa mambo ya sheria (Paralegals), wafuatiliaji wa masuala ya Wazee waelimishaji rika n.k.

 

Utendaji:

• Baraza linaweza kutumika na Serikali, Wabunge, Wanasiasa Watendaji na Taasisi mbalimbali kama chanzo cha habari za Wazee takwimu, na mambo kadhaa ya Wazee kabla ya mipango, uboreshaji hudua na utekelezaji wa mambo yanayohusu maisha ya Wazee kuanzia Kijiji hadi Taifa.
• Baraza linaweza pia kuwa kama sehemu ya kiutendaji wa Shirika au Mashirika ya Wazee yanayofanya kazi kusaidia Wazee Kijiji au Wilaya.
• Wajumbe kukutana kubadilishana mawazo na kupeana tarifa muhimu za maisha yao ili kuleta mabadiliko.
• Baraza litakutana na kuzungumzia mambo/kero zinazogusa maisha ya Wazee katika eneo lao kama vile Afya, huduma za matibabu, pensheni kwa wazee wote na namna nyingine za kipato kwa wazee n.k.

 

• Baraza katika kila Wilaya litafanya kazi kusaidia au kutaarifu Serikali, Mashirika ya kuhudumia Wazee, jamii na Wazee kuhusu mambo yanayohusu maisha ya Wazee.

 

Mikutano.

• Inaweza kuamliwa na wajumbe lakini mara nyingi huwa mara moja kwa mwezi.
• Inaweza kuwa ya dharura linapotokea jambo kama msiba/mauaji uchaguzi wa dharura n.k.
• Utaitishwa na Katibu kwa kushirikiana na Mwenyekiti
• Serikali ya Kijiji au Kata au Wilaya au Mkoa inaweza kuhudhuria ili kuweza kujua na kutoa majibu juu ya matatizo yanayokabili Wazee wa Kijiji/Kata/Wilaya husika.

 

 

Majukumu ya Mabaraza ya Wazee kuanzia ngazi ya Vijiji/Mta hadi Taifa

 

1. BARAZA LA WAZEE LA KIJIJI/MTAA
2. Kubadilishana mawazo na kupeana taarifa za maisha yao ili kuleta mabadiliko.
3. Kuzungumzia Kero/Changamoto mbalimbali zinazowakabili Wazee katika maeneo yao (mf. Afya, huduma za matibabu, pensheni kwa wazee wote na namna nyingine za kipato.)
4. Kutoa takwimu, taarifa mbalimbali za Wazee kabla ya mipango na bajeti za Serikali, Taasisi, Mashirika yasiyo ya Kiserikali na wanaharakati wa masuala ya Wazee.
5. Ni sehemu ya kiutendaji ya Mashirika ya Wazee yanayofanya kazi kusaidia Wazee Kijiji/Mtaa, kwenye Kata au Mkoa.
6. Kutoa changamoto, kushauri na kupendekeza masuala ya kimaendeleo, haki na stahili za Wazee kwa watunga Sera na watoa maamuzi.
7. Kuchagua viongozi na wafuatiliaji wa masuala ya Wazee (OPMG OLDER PEOPLE MONITORING GROUPS).
8. Kuboresha na kupeana maarifa, uzoefu, na uwezo baina yao na kutatua masuala mbalimbali ya msingi mfano uboreshaji huduma rafiki za afya kwa Wazee, Usafiri, miundombinu bora kwa Wazee, kushughulikia kesi mbalimbali. N.k.

 

1. MAJUKUMU YA BARAZA LA WAZEE LA KATA
2. Kufanya utambuzi wa mahitaji ya Wazee ili yaingizwe kwenye mipango na bajeti za Kata husika.
3. Kufanya Mkutano wa Baraza la Wazee la Kata Mara 1 kwa mwezi kwa maana hiyo Baraza la Kata litakutana Mara 12 kwa mwaka.
4. Kufanya uchaguzi wa viongozi wanne (4) kutoka Baraza la kila Kijiji kwenye Kata husika (yaani, Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi) kukutana katika ngazi ya Kata na kuunda Baraza la Kata. Kufanya uchaguzi wa uongozi wa Baraza la Kata (Mwenyekiti, Mwenyekiti Msaidizi, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi) utafanya chini ya usimamizi wa Mtendaji wa Kata, Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii wa Halmashauri/Kata na Wenyeviti wa Vijiji ndani ya Kata husika.
5. Kuchagua Wazee wawili (Me na Ke) ili kuwawakilisha kwenye Baraza la Maendeleo ya Kata (WDC).
6. Kusimamia haki na stahili za Wazee katika Kata.
7. Kushauri Baraza la Maendeleo la Kata (WDC) kufanya utambuzi na mahitaji ya Wazee katika Kata.
8. Kuwajumuisha Wazee katika mipango ya uzalishaji mali kwenye Kata.
9. Mabaraza ya Wazee kwa kushirikiana na vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama kutoa ulinzi kwa wazee.
10. Kuelimisha Wazee na jamii kuhusu masuala ya Uzee na Kuzeeka na ushiriki wa Wazee katika maendeleo ya Taifa.

 

 

1. MAJUKUMU   YA   BARAZA   LA WAZEE WILAYA.
2. Kupitia majumuisho ya kero mbalimbali   za   wazee   zilizoletwa   na   wawakilishi/wajumbe wa Baraza   la wilaya kutoka   kwenye   Kata mbalimbali wilayani ,kwa kuzijadili na kuzitafutia ufumbuzi.
3. Kufanya   Mkutano wa baraza la   wazee   la   wilaya   kila   baada   ya miezi mitatu. Kwa maana hiyo Baraza la Wilaya   litakutana   Mara   4   kwa Mwaka
4. Viongozi   (4) wanne kutoka mabaraza   ya Kata kwenye Wilaya husika ( yaani : Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti,Katibu na Kaimu Katibu) kukutana katika ngazi   ya Wilaya   na kuuunda BARAZA LA WILAYA. Uchaguzi uongozi   wa BARAZA LA WILAYA (Mwenyekiti,Mwenyekiti Msaidizi, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi) utafanyika chini   ya usimamizi wa Afisa Ustawi   wa Jamii Wilaya, Mwenyekiti wa Huduma za Kijamii   wa Wilaya, Watendaji wa Kata zote ndani   ya Wilaya   husika na litazinduliwa   Rasmi na Mkuu wa Wilaya/Katibu Tawala wa Wilaya.
5. Kupeleka kero ambazo zimewashinda kuzitatua kwenye   Baraza la Madiwani la wilaya.
6. Kuchagua wawakilishi 2 (me   na   ke) kuwawakilisha   wazee   wote   wilayani kwenye Baraza la Madiwani (Full Council).
7. Kushawishi   Halmashauri kutenga bajeti maalumu   za Miradi ya uzalishaji   mali kwa makundi   ya wazee   wasiojiweza.
8. Kushawishi   serikali   kutoa vitambulisho kwa wazee wenye umri wa miaka 60 na kuendelea kwa ajili   ya kupatia huduma mbalimbali mf. Huduma   za afya, maji, kupata msamaha wa kodi   ya   majengo.
9. Kuratibu mabaraza ya   kata

 

 

 

 

D. MAJUKUMU YA BARAZA LA MKOA.

1. Kufanya Mkutano wa Baraza la Wazee la Mkoa kila baada ya miezi 6. Kwa maana hiyo Baraza la Mkoa litakutana Mara mbili (2) kwa Mwaka.
2. Kusimamia utoaji wa huduma kwa Wazee Wilaya zote Mkoani.
3. Viongozi (4) wanne kutoka Mabaraza ya Wilaya kwenye Mkoa husika yaani: Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi, Kukutana katika ngazi ya Mkoa na kuunda Baraza la Wazee la Mkoa. Uchaguzi wa uongozi wa Baraza la Mkoa (Mwenyekiti, Makamu Mwenyekiti, Katibu na Katibu Msaidizi) utafanyika chini ya usimamizi wa Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa (RAS), Afisa Ustawi wa Jamii wa Sekretarieti ya Mkoa, Mganga Mkuu wa Mkoa, Wakuu wa Wilaya kwenye Mkoa husika, Wenyeviti wa Huduma za Kijamii wa Halmashauri katika Mkoa husika, na litazinduliwa Rasmi na Mkuu wa Mkoa au Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa (RAS).
4. Kuhimiza Halmashauri za Wilaya Manispaa, Majiji, Asasi na Wakala za Hiari ili kutoa huduma mbalimbali za msingi kwa Wazee wote wa miaka 60 na kuendelea.
5. Kushauri Serikali kuwa na mwakilishi wa Wazee kwenye Bunge kama ilivyo kwa makundi ya wanawake, Walemavu na vijana.
6. Kupokea kero mbalimbali za Wazee kutoka Wilaya na kuzitafutia ufumbuzi.
7. Kuchagua wawakilishi wawili watakaoshiriki katika kuunda Baraza Huru la Wazee la Taifa.
8. Kuratibu shughuli za Mabaraza ya Wazee ya kila Wilaya na Mkoa

               

 

MOROGORO ELDERLY PEOPLE`S ORGANIZATION.

(MOREPEO)

 

ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMME IN TANZANIA

(TAN 239 - ACT)

MOROGORO ELDERLY PEOPLE`S ORGANIZATION.(MOREPEO) ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMME IN TANZANIA(TAN 239 - ACT)Morogoro Best Practices

 

Consultant:-

Mr. AMANI, PAUL JOSEPH

 

LECTURER – MZUMBE UNIVERSITY

 

THE FACULT OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT

 

Abbreviations

CHF                            Community Health Fund

CCHP                          Comprehensive Council Health Plans

CSO                           Civil Society Organization

CHFB                          Council Health Fund Board

CHMT                         Council Health Management Team

DOPF                          District Older People Forum

HBC                            Home Based Care

HFC                             Health Facility Committee

HSSP                           Health Sector Strategic Plan

IGA                             Income Generating Activities

NGO                            Non Governmental Organization

MDG                           Millennium Development Goals

MKUKUTA                 Mpango wa Kukuza Kchumi na Kupunguza Umaskini

MOREPEO                  Morogoro Elderly People’s Organization

OPF                             Older People Forum

OPMG                         Older People Monitoring Groups

PPP                              Public Private Partnerships

PEEs                            Peer Educators

RCC                             Regional Consultative Meeting

TASAF                         Tanzania Social Action Fund

TBC                             Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation

TIKA                            Tiba kwa Kadi

 

List of Tables

List of text boxes

Text Box 1       Guidance to identify Target Population

Text Box 2       Guidelines for the introduction of Older People’s Focal Persons

Text Box 3       Guidelines for the formation of Older People Monitoring Groups

Text Box 4       Guideline in the Use of Media

Text Box 5       Guideline for use the Community Health Fund

Text Box 6       Guideline to establish and operationalisation of Income Generating Activities

Text Box 7       A Guide for Partnership and Networking

 

 

Executive Summary

Best practice is a strategic management tool aimed at delivering high quality services and promises the best outcome. The best practices identified in this report were as documented   project namely; “Accountability Programme in Tanzania (ACT TAN 239) . The PROJECT is implemented by MOREPEO in Kilosa district councils in Morogoro region The programme   is also implemented   by sisters age care organizations of MAPERECE in Magu, PADI in Songea, MOPSEA in Moshi Kilimanjaro, SAWATA Kasulu , SAWAKA Karagwe, SHIDEPHA Bukombe, NABROHO Shimiyu, KIWWAUMBA Mbarali and TWAULAE in Shinyanga. The project aims at enabled strengthening evidence based advocacy through the OPFs and OPMGs; working with local and central government authorities to mainstream and reinforce accountability on older people’s rights and entitlements; promoting intervention which accelerate campaign against the murder of older people on witchcraft allegations; and working with the media to influence their role as change agents to build positive image and promote equity to services and entitlements among all citizens. Key activities implemented includes:-Engagement meetings with the council Health management Teams (CHMT) ; Engagement meeting with the District Serious Crime Task Force addressing the issue of elderly abuse and brutal killings of older people due to witchcrafts allegations; Mobilization meeting with older people to participate in constitutional referendum; Ageing Mainstreaming Workshops with District Council; Older people and partner representative’s engagement follow-up meetings with Councilors’ and their MPs on the rights and needs of older people; and Dissemination of National Ageing Policy.

The main aim of this assignment was to find out and document the best practice experienced during the implementation of the project. In order to reach this end, the study adopted a comparative approach whereby different processes and procedures used to implement project objectives in Kilosa district council were examined. In view of this, qualitative methods were largely used. The main methods used to collect data included making desk review, Focus Group Discussion, Observations and Interviews. The main target group of respondents included, older people, Key district heads of departments (i,e District Executive Director, District Medical Officer ,District Planning Officer ,District Community Development Officer, District TASAF Coordinator, District Social Welfare and District Vicoba Coordinator ), implementing Age Care Organization (MOREPEO), health care providers, RMO, DMO, Older People Focal Persons, members of Older Peoples Monitoring Groups, Local village leaders and media people. The data collected from different sources were classified and analyzed to determine the best practice in pilot project area.

The best practices which were identified in the two projects were seven, namely i) Targeting; ii) establishment of Older People Focal Person at the council level; iii) establishment of grass root structures at village/mtaa level; iv) Use of media; v) use of Community Health Funds; vi) engagement of older people into income generating activities; and vii) Networking and partnership. These practices were selected after carefully observing and making comparison of processes and procedures used by Kilosa and Morogoro Municipal Council councils to achievement project objectives. The uniqueness of each practice is explained below.

a) Targeting Key People: Targeting as an approach is generally used to capture information from purposefully selected population. In this project targeting was not only concerned with targeting key decision makers at high level such as District Mayor, District Executive Directors, Planning Officers and the like, but also implementers of decision at lower levels i.e. local leaders such as (WEO,VEO,MEO), health providers, the community members, older people and the media people who became active drivers of change. The strategy worked well as all those who were targeted become front runners in addressing the rights and entitlements of older people including free medical services to older people and their dependants.

b) Appointment of Older People Focal Persons: The establishment of older people focal person is a good initiative which helped to link issues of older people between the council and age care organizations. The focal person helped to raise issues of older people within the council structure so that different actors in the district council could take immediate actions. This action helped the council to increase its capacity in understanding older people’s issues and mainstream them in their plans and budgets. In addition, focal persons did not only work as facilitators between civil society organizations, local community leaders, but he/she reflected the fact that, what was done were not just for MOREPEO but they had a blessing of the councils. Hence the implementation of the project was part of the agenda of the council.

c) Establishment of Older People Monitoring Groups (OPMGs): In Kilosa council i were MOREPEO is implementing the project, Older People Monitoring Groups ,Home Based Care groups and Peer Educators were established by the community members. This approach was unique in the sense that, it was community based and it had an in built sense of sustainability from community members themselves. Among other things, these groups were concerned with data collection concerning the status of older people, and also acted as monitors and providers of information to relevant authorities at different levels to facilitate decision making process. Hence regular monitoring meetings which took place throughout the project period provided learning opportunities for the participants and involving key stakeholders, and feedback to the duty bearers at the grass root level. It was also noted that, while such findings from monitoring were used immediately by the OPMGs, HBCs PEEs at village and ward level by engaging village, wards and district council on aspects of health services which needed improvements, these findings were also presented on quarterly basis to the implementing partners who later presented them the council for further action. Last but not least, the introduction of home based care services to older people brought new hope to many older people who were previously living in isolation and had virtually no one to turn to for both social and material support.

d) Use of media: The media were taken as one of the important stakeholders in advocating older people’s rights and their entitlements. This helped them to appreciate that they too had a role to play and can make meaningful contribution to the project. This motivated the media to play an active role in raising public awareness and to increase visibility of older people’s accountability issues to policies and strategies, taking this as part of the obligation they have to the society and not as an opportunity for earning revenue where they could charge commercial rates for airing the program. Secondly, there was a strong willingness of media personnel to participate in various meetings, workshops and seminars not as journalists but as participants. Their full participation in such forum helped not only to increase their capacity of understanding ageing issues, the national policy frameworks and strategies concerning the protection of older people’s rights, but to disseminate the right information to the public. In Morogoro Municipal for example the media people were invited to participate in all meeting organized by different stakeholders which discussed issues of older people. Such meetings included for example, District Consultative Committee (DCC), and MOREPEO meeting. Thirdly, As a result of the above point, there were increased passion among media people through their personal involvement and commitment in advocating older people’s rights. This was evidenced in Both Kilosa and Morogoro district councils were I noted the presence of special media journalists Chance Katembo of Radio Tumaini and John Nditi of Tanzania Standard News Paper Ltd  who specialized in writing issues and articles concerning older people; and willingness to participate in issues concerning older people without expecting any payment.

e) Use of Community Health Funds: The use of Community Health Fund facilitated the increasing access of health services to the dependants of older people. Statistics provided in two council’s health providers indicating an increased number of older people testify this. Both two Councils have established the community health fund have finalized the legal formalities and have started allocating funds to cater for health services for older people and their dependants. last but not least, the mainstreaming meetings conducted by MOREPEO to key district heads of departments acted as a challenge for the council to start allocating funds for older people and their dependants through Community Health Fund.

f) Engaging older people in income generating activities: Older people are largely poor. Poverty makes them fall out of community and family safety net. The most challenging task was how to select the few among many poor older people to get loans This activity was facilitated by TAN 605 and 611 Sida funded project . In accomplishing this task there were various procedures established which qualifies it to become one of the best practices. These procedures included the following: i) regular monitoring of projects through OPMGs and village government leaders, ii) involvement of group members who benefited from the loan to make follow up of their fellow group members who seemed to default. This involved motivating their fellow group members and counseling from selected team members to follow up the implementation of income generating activities, iii) There were elements of savings among the beneficiaries of the loans as expressed in their pass book which clearly identified sections for loans, savings and payment, and iv) Giving the loan to older people helped to learn that older people who were in a group using it as collateral worked better than if given to an individual. Where it had happened, those who defaulted, the whole group was held responsible to reimburse the money and the group or individual was forced out of the group later.

g) Cross visits, Partnership and networking: Accomplishing project objectives needed a concerted effort from different actors. Effective networking and partnership skills were necessary in order to engage different partners and stakeholders to support the initiatives of the implementing partner. It is for this reason networking helped to strengthen relations and collaborations with other organizations which were dealing with other programs in different parts of the districts and across the region . This was made possible through good rapport existing between the implementing partners with other nongovernmental organizations by inviting them to participate in issues concerning older people. Apart from this networking further helped in sharing resources and promoting teamwork. In so doing, cross visits , partnership and networking helped to increase access and entitlement of health services to older people and their dependants.

 

The study concludes that the project had a good number of best practices which need to replicate in other areas in Tanzania and outside the country. However not all best practices can be universally applied because their applicability depends on various other circumstance such as different levels of development, perception of the implementers, cultural or differing circumstances which may not be favorable. However, a key strategic talent required when applying best practice to organization is the ability to balance the unique qualities of an organization with the practice that it has in common with others. In addition, a best practice are not static they change as new development and new approaches emerge at different points in time.

 

 

Table of Contents

Abbreviations

List of Boxes

Executive Summary

1.0  Introduction

2.0  Background of information

3.0  Methodology

4.0  Best Practices

4.1  Targeting Key People

4.2  Establishment of Older People Focal Persons

4.3  Establishment of Older People Monitoring Groups

4.4  Use of media

4.5  Use of Community Health Fund

4.6  Engagement of Older People in Income Generating Activities

4.7  Cross Visit Partnership and Networking

 

5.0  Conclusion

 

 

MOREPEO copyright

ACCOUNTABILIT Y PROGRAMME IN TANZANIA ( ACT)Kilosa District in Morogoro Region

1.0    Introduction

Best practice is a strategic management tool aimed at delivering high quality service and best outcome. It is a technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means that is used as a benchmark. Within this context, this report draws best practices from this project namely “Accountability Programme in Tanzania -ACT” (TAN 239) which was implemented in Kilosa district council in Morogoro region. Whereas in Morogoro the project was implemented by Morogoro Elderly People’s Organization (MOREPEO). The overall purpose of the project aims at enabled strengthening evidence based advocacy through the OPFs and OPMGs; working with local and central government authorities to mainstream and reinforce accountability on older people’s rights and entitlements; promoting intervention which accelerate campaign against the murder of older people on witchcraft allegations; and working with the media to influence their role as change agents to build positive image and promote equity to services and entitlements among all citizens.

In the course of implementing the project (i.e. TAN 239) best practices have been drawn with a view of documenting and replicating them in Tanzania and outside Tanzania. These practices are normally used to describe the process of developing a standard way of doing things that other organizations can use. These practices are used to maintain quality as an alternative to mandatory legislated standards and can be based on self assessment. The best practice are not static they keep on changing and becoming better as new methods, approaches and procedures are discovered. Establishing procedures and practices was not easy much as it involved studying different methods and procedures which were used to attain high quality output. However, not all best practices can be applicable in all situations; some may apply while others cannot apply depending on prevailing circumstances. The implementation of these projects had several good practices but for the sake of this assignment we have selected the best few practices which were unique and which could be replicated within and outside Morogoro Region.

2.0    Background information

The majority of older people in Tanzania still live in abject poverty. Poverty rates in households with older people are higher than in households without. Households headed by older people with their dependants especially grandchildren who are particularly at more risk. For example, despite older people’s right to be free from hunger, lack of basic needs such as food is a serious cause of poor healthy problem caused by malnutrition. Apart from poor health status, the majority of older people are marginalized in numerous ways including having poor access to health care facilities and receiving low priority in government programs.

In view of the above circumstances, Tanzania has taken various initiatives towards the provision of social protection to the most vulnerable categories of people in Tanzania. Among these initiatives include a broader strategy with the National Strategies and Policy Frameworks such as the National Development Vision 2025, National Ageing Policy (NAP) of 2003, the National Health Policy and the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP) I and II. The Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) III launched in March 2010, the completion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy and creation of position for PPP within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are some of initiatives the government has adopted towards improving health care services delivery. Furthermore, through the decentralization process, government encourages collaboration between Civil Society Organizations and the local government for the realization of health sector objectives. However, whereas free access to health care services was granted to older people on a loosely defined means tested basis, its implementation was patchy as a result of lack of awareness of policy amongst local health care professionals, lack of clarity on procedures for verifying age at local level (MoLEYD, 2003). As a result of challenges within means testing mechanism, and increasingly recognition that older people need to enjoy their right to free medical services, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has recently universalized the user fee exemption to cover all older people. However, it likely that implementation will remain challenging for some time to come. Moreover, full impact of the exemption policy are unlikely to be felt while older people are unable to meet the private costs associated with accessing medical care for chronic illness.

In all these initiatives, the commitment to improve the quality of life and social well being of older people is well reflected. However, despite the existence of these initiatives, there has been no substantive development to implement these policies at district and community levels due to inadequate awareness of the policies and limited capacity of the local authorities to implement them. Instead the right of older people including health care rights and recognition from health care providers has remained an area of key concern. Hence the implementation of this project was an attempt to fill the above gaps through awareness raising campaigns and increase access to health services to the older people and their dependants in collaboration with other stakeholders.   In so doing the project was aimed at achieving the following objectives:

1. To enabled strengthening evidence based advocacy through the OPFs and OPMGs;
2. Working with local and central government authorities to mainstream and reinforce accountability on older people’s rights and entitlements;
3. Promoting intervention which accelerate campaign against the murder of older people on witchcraft allegations; and
4. Working with the media to influence their role as change agents to build positive image and promote equity to services and entitlements among all citizens.

3.0 Methodology

The process of documenting the best practices in accessing health rights and entitlements for older people and their dependants involved various methods. These methods involved examining and comparing procedures in order to determine the best practice. The main aim was to measure the key outputs of the project against the best procedures which made a difference in the realization of project outputs. This entailed qualitative and quantitative measurements which allowed the internal and external assessment. In an attempt to determine the most effective and efficient means of realizing the main objectives of the project, the study adopted a participatory approach by involving a number of key stakeholders. These included project beneficiaries (older people), the implementers of the project, district council officials, health service providers, older people monitoring groups, the media, the members of the network, community members, local leaders – village and ward leaders from Kilosa district and Morogoro municipal councils.

A wide range of data collection methods and techniques were employed during the study. Some of key methods included review of important project documents such as, project proposal, Mid Term Review and Annual Project Reports. The desk review was important because it provided a fairly good knowledge about the projects, objectives and the achievement made. Other methods included individual and group interviews, focus group discussion and observation. The stakeholders which were engaged in this process included, MOREPEO staff members, Executive committee members of the organization, older people, government officials (i.e. Municipal and District Executive Directors, Health Service Providers, District/Municipal Medical Officers, Social welfare Officers, Community Development Officers, District Planning Officer, TASAF Coordinator, District Vicoba Coordinator Ward and Village Executive Officers) and media personnel who were engaged in this project.

4.0 Best Practices

In the course of implementing project activities in Kilosa district council, there were several good practices which contributed the achievement of the project objectives. Out of these, few best practices which demonstrated uniqueness and high level contribution in accomplishing project objectives were documented. These include the following: i) Targeting key actors/people; ii) Appointment of Older People Focal Person at the council level; iii) Establishment of Older People Monitoring Groups at village/mtaa level; iv) Use of media; v) use of Community Health Funds; vi) Engagement of older people into income generating activities; and vii) Cross visits/Networking and partnership. Each of these practices is explained in details below.

4.1 Targeting Key Actors/People

Targeting was used to capture members from the local government and community members who were strategically placed to influence decision making process and also to change their mind set towards the rights and entitlements of older people. One of the major criteria of targeting was looking for key actors within the district/municipal council who were capable of changing the prevailing old practices and behavior to positive thinking and response to older people’s issues. The targeted population within the district and municipal council level included council leadership such as Mayor(in Morogoro Municipal Council), Chairperson of the Council (in Kilosa district Council), the councilors, head of departments at the council level who included District Executive Directors, District Medical Officers, District Planning Officers, Community Development Officers ,district TASAF coordinator, district VICOBA coordinator, district Medical Officer and Social Welfare Officers. These were both political and technical experts who were strategically placed to influence decisions in favor of older people. At the lower level (i.e. ward and village/mtaa) older people, community members, health care providers and ward and village executive officers were also targeted.

At the council level, targeting as a strategy helped to involve the council leadership in planning, implementing and evaluating the project activities, hence making it easier for council to mainstream issues of older people in the council’s plans and budgets. In addition, this brought in the sense of ownership and long term sustainability strategy much as the targeted leaders helped to support follow-ups and addressing challenges facing older people which came to their attention. At community level, older people and community members were targeted to change their attitudes towards care and support to older people, while village and ward leaders were targeted to support the implementation of the project through the provision of logistical and administrative support. At village level for example, local government leaders provided administrative and logistical support to older people who were involved in undertaking income generating activities. It should be noted that TAN 239 did not have funds to implement Income generating activities but the funds was disbursed by TAN 611 Sida funded   project and the Kilosa district council through TASAF II programme. This was done through guaranteeing the older people who secured loans, monitoring the project activities undertaken by older people, enforcing the process of recovering the loans and linking the older people who were undertaking piggery/goats to veterinary services. On the other hand, there were high level of involvement of the community leadership in monitoring and evaluating the project. This was done through receiving reports from OPMGs, HBCs,PEEs and participating in reinforcing the decision made from district levels. It was further observed through the discussion that, local government leaders were part of Health Facility Committee (HFC) at the village level.

At operational level of Council Health Management Teams (CHMT), Council Health Fund Board (CHFB), heads of health facilities and health providers were also targeted as policy implementers at council level. This was a strategic approach whereby each of these actors had a different role to play in attempting to realize the objective of the project. The targeted population was empowered/trained to build their capacity on ageing issues, national policies and strategies concerning older people and the role of different actors at different levels. This was meant to build their capacity in understanding the older people issues and solicit their willingness to support the project by working with local and central government authorities to mainstream and reinforce accountability on older people’s rights and entitlements; promoting intervention which accelerate campaign against the murder of older people on witchcraft allegations; and working with the media to influence their role as change agents to build positive image and promote equity to services and entitlements among all citizens.

Hence, though targeting as an approach have been used elsewhere in implementing other projects, this project targeting was not only concerned with targeting decision makers at district/municipal level, but targeting was extended to the lower levels i.e. the implementers, local leaders, health providers, the community members, older people and the media people who became active drivers of change. The strategy worked well as all those who were targeted became in the fore front in addressing the rights of older people including free medical services to older people and their dependants and the inclusion of elderly people in councils` plans and budgets.

4.2 Appointment of Older People Focal Persons

The appointment of older people focal persons in each of the two councils of Morogoro Municipal   and Kilosa was a fantastic initiative which was brought about after sensitization campaign and realization of taking on board issues of older people in the plans and budget of the councils. The decision to appoint older people focal persons was made to increase the capacity of the council to understand concerns of older people as well as increasing the level of accountability and collaboration between the council and the Civil Society Organization, nongovernmental organization and community based organizations. The main functions of the focal person included the following:

a)            To collect information from CSOs and analyze them with other stakeholders the provision of health services and their dependants

b)            Inform the council on regular basis the progress of the implementation of the project

c)             Receive complaints and problems regarding the implementation of the project and channel them to the relevant authorities for further action

d)            Disseminate information from the council to civil society organizations and other non government organizations on decisions made towards resolving identified problems

e)             To liaise with other stakeholder in providing health services to older people and their dependants

f)             Organize meetings, sensitize stakeholders on older people’s rights and entitlements and keep records of older people issues in the council.

In view of the above functions, the focal persons helped to link the issues of older people between the council and civil society organizations. The focal person helped to raise issues of older people within the council structure so that different actors in the council could take immediate actions. The Morogoro experience reveals that, issues which were brought by Older People Monitoring Groups in their councils were already raised by the focal persons. What looks peculiar in this practice was that, the move to introduce focal person helped the council to increase its capacity in understanding older people’s issues and mainstream them in their plans and budgets. Secondly, focal persons worked as facilitators between civil society organizations, local community leaders and they took a leading role in undertaking older people’s concerns. Last but not least, it became increasingly clear that, what was implemented by the project were not just for MOREPEO, but they had a blessing of the councils. Hence the establishment of older people focal persons implied that, project activities were part of the agenda of the council.

MOREPEO -ACT Consultant`s best practices

 

4.3 Establishment of Older People Monitoring Groups.

Establishment of Older People Monitoring groups such as Older People Monitoring Group and Home Based Care group was another best practice which facilitated an increased access increased access of health care services to the older people and their dependants. The existence of these groups has proved to be a key channel for older people to give their feelings and views regarding their health status and other basic needs. The roles and responsibilities of these groups are described below.

a) The Older Peoples Monitoring Groups

The Older Peoples Monitoring Groups (OPMG) was composed of ten members, two of which were nominated representative (one older man and one older woman) from the ward level. The roles of OPMGs include the following: i) to collect at ward level priority issues raised by older people; ii) to present and discuss these priorities in meetings with the village government committees, Ward Development Councils and district council, and lobby for their inclusion in the ward and district development plans; iii) collect information to monitor the progress against annual priority and targets in ward and council plans; and iv) to pass information on policies and entitlements to older people and the wider community in their villages.

After receiving information concerning the older people the village office, ward and municipal councils in collaboration with the implementing partners met at different levels to discuss older people’s issues with a view of resolving the matter. The composition of the caucus meeting depended on the concerned parties. There was a very close collaboration between the OPMGs, the Mtaa/ward leaders and municipal councils. The collaboration was made easier as a result of the impact of awareness rising campaigns through training, workshops, seminars and public meetings. The role of OPMGs in collaboration with the implementing partners and district councils in gathering data on health services delivery was to ensure that all stakeholders had a responsibility to keep local government duty bears accountable in their responsibility to support entitlement of the rights of older people.

In view of the above, the creation of Older People Monitoring groups helped to break the isolation of older people and provided a space in a non threatening environment to meet, share their grievances, exchange ideas, offer mutual support and draw strength in a collective forum to engage with local leadership and advocate for better health service provision. In addition, the involvement of OPMGs ensured that the project took into consideration the social and cultural aspects of the communities during project implementation. These were some of the qualities which made this practice best.

B

b) Home Based Care

Home based care model was one of a community based approach to support older people by providing them with moral and material support. The community home based care providers were selected on the basis on their willingness to serve the older people. The members were supposed to seek for the information concerning needs and problems affecting older people in their homes and provide support by helping them in domestic work, giving them advice, information and assisted them to go to the hospital when they felt sick. They also initiated support groups for trained home based carers, for self advocacy and linking older carers to support services. The reports received from the HBCs were first reported to the Mtaa/village chairperson who took action. In complicated cases, the matter was reported to village chairperson who then involved other stakeholders to address the matter.[1]

What made this approach best practice was its community based nature and its inherent sense of sustainability from community members. Furthermore, since these groups were concerned with data collection concerning the status of older people, they also acted as monitors and providers of information to relevant authorities to facilitate decision making process. Hence regular monitoring meetings which involved members of these groups which took place throughout the project period provided learning opportunities for the participants and involving key stakeholders, including older people themselves. The monthly and quarterly meetings between OPMGs, HBCs, implementing partners and council officials received problems and discussed how to solve the problem which emerged from different villages/sites.[2] In other words, the presence of these monitoring groups helped to provide feedback to duty bearers at the grass root level. Additionally, while such findings from monitoring were used immediately by the OPMGs at village and ward level by engaging village, wards and district council on aspects of health services which needed improvements, these findings were also presented on quarterly basis to the implementing partners who later presented them the council for further action. Last but not least, the establishment of home based care services to older people brought new hope to many older people who were previously living in isolation and had virtually no one to turn to for both social and material support.

Text Box 4: Guidelines for     operationalization of home based care givers Identification of home based carers by community members Members of HBC with experience of working with health interventions ongoing or previously funded in the community (i.e. primary health care workers, malaria projects and HIV/AIDS)[1] be given priority Allocating older people among HBC members (e.g. one HBC being responsible for 3 to 6 older people) Making regular visits and providing counseling services to older people Provide to support to older people such as performing domestic chores Inform village government leaders of needs that require community support such as repair of house, construction of toilets, provision of clothes and other basic needs Where possible provide incentives that are affordable and sustainable by program to HBC members as a sign of appreciation of their services[1] Compliment group visits with Individual visits by HBCs     wherever necessary Conduct regular meetings by HBCs at village level in determining older people health status and challenges which need intervention at community level Village groups such as HBCs and OPMGs be recognized by leadership at community level which interact with village leadership and health facilities staff

4.4 Use of media

The media was used to transmit information to different categories of the population. The main media houses which were used included, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC TV/Radio), IPP Media (ITV and Radio One)  , Abood Media (TV/Radio), and Radio Okoa , TOP FM, and Planet Radio . The radio program included News Bulletin, special program like “tuzumgumze asubuhi” from the above radio programs in songea. Radio programs like, “Wazee ni hazina” from Radio Tumaini “Asubuhi njema” from Radio Ukweli, and through “Vipindi maalum” by Radio Abood covering activities and events concerning older people. These were programs which were aired from 20 to 150 minutes depending on the radio programs. The main messages delivered in most of these programs revolved around the following areas, namely: i) Accessibility of older people’s Rights and entitlement; ii) The right to free medical services for older people; iii) The national policies and strategies with a bearing to issues of older people; iv) Needs and problems of older people; v) Universal social pension; and vi) Live interviews from different older people concerning their experiences and activities.

National television programs run by TBC1, ITV, Channel Ten, Star Television and regional television program by Abood Television in Morogoro region were invited and participated in Media tracking and awareness forums at local and national level to increase visibility of OP accountability issues related to policies and strategies. The major methods used in the television programs were through the news bulletin, production of documentaries and use of individual profile of older person and live interviews. The media was more effective in delivering the message to larger population compared to other methods. Whereas the media have been used in various advocacy and awareness raising campaign, the participation of media in this project was unique because of the following reasons.

a)            The media were taken as one of the important stakeholders in advocating older people’s rights and their entitlements. This helped them to appreciate that they too had a role to play and can make meaningful contribution to the project. This motivated the media to play an active role in raising public awareness on older people’s issues taking this as part of the obligation they have to the society and not as an opportunity for earning revenue where they could charge commercial rates for airing the program.

b)            There was a strong willingness of media personnel to participate in various meetings, workshops and seminars not as journalists (who would come and listen briefly and go) but as participants. Their full participation in such forum helped not only to increase their capacity of understanding ageing issues, the national policy frameworks and strategies concerning the protection of older people’s rights, but to disseminate the right information to the public.

c)             As a result of (b) there were increased passion among media people through their commitment and personal involvement in advocating older people’s rights. This can be evidenced by the following features: i) an inclusion of a media person in the MOREPEO Executive committee (Mr. Wilson Karuwesa); ii) existence of special group of journalists who specialized in writing articles concerning older people; iii) willingness to participate in issues concerning older people without expecting any payment, and iv) special programs organized by ITV, TBC1,Abood TV and Iman TV such as documentaries on the older people`s challenges and tracking individual profiles of older people were a result of such commitment.

4.5 The use of Community Health Funds

Tanzania launched the Community Health Fund (CHF) in 2001; however the coverage of the poor has remained negligible. The older people in particular appear either unable to make the required financial contributions or have become disenchanted with the scheme given the poor quality of old age health care services at local level. Unfortunately, the entitlement of benefits of CHF has not been demanded for lack of knowledge about how it works by potential beneficiaries.[3] The Poor segment of the population including older people and their dependants did not enjoy this facility partly because they were unable to contribute to the CHF unless the local government allocates funds for them.

In both cases the Morogoro and Kilosa experiences provides best practice for the use of community health fund. In Kilosa for example, through the project, the knowledge about Community Health Fund and how the fund operated in favor of older people and their dependants was provided. As a result, the district council managed to fund older people and their dependants by through the use of Community Health Fund in government health facilities and Faith Based Organization health facility. As a result, through CHF program older people and their dependants were registered and paid 10,000/- for each family. Through this program a total number of 8,000 ( F 4,500,M 3,500) older people and 32,000 dependants have benefited. Hence most of the dependants living with the vulnerable older people have benefited from the program. Kilosa district council provided identity cards to older people while their dependant’s names were listed in a registration form. In the case of Morogoro municipal council the project initiated the law for the establishment of CHF in the municipal council. As a result, in its annual budget 2015/2016 the municipal has set aside 32 million to cater for older people and their dependants (through the program known as TIKA – Tiba kwa Kadi). In view of the above, the use of Community Health Fund had the following merits:

a)            The use of community health fund facilitated the increasing access of health services to the dependants of older people. Statistics of the attendance of older people from different health providing centers observed in four councils testify this.

b)            The council which had not established the community health fund such as Morogoro municipality finalized the legal formalities and it has started to set funds to cater for health services for older people and their dependants

c)             The fund provided by project to pay for older people and their dependants through community health fund acted as a challenge for the council to start allocating funds for older people and their dependants through CHF

4.4    Engaging older people in income generating activities by TAN 611

Engaging older people in income generating activities was a challenging one but worthy it. In all four districts the process of administering the loan to selected older people was more or less similar. The following procedures were used.

a) Identification of the Beneficiaries

Before the older person became a micro credit scheme beneficiary, he/she was identified by his or her fellow older people through the village assembly public meeting in the presence of village government leaders and OPMG. In order for one to qualify for a credit scheme, an older person was required to fulfil the following criteria namely: i) he or she must be at the age of 60 or more ii) he or she must be a resident of the selected village, iii) he or she must possess the ability to repay the loan, iv) he or she must be accepted by the fellow older persons and his or her fellow income generating group members as trustworthy person; v) it was preferably that over 55% of the beneficiaries must be women, with a defined number of dependants she cared.

b) Entrepreneurial Training

For those who qualified for a credit scheme, they had to undergo training on how to select and run viable IGA projects, record keeping, budgeting, diversifying projects and marketing. The kind of projects was decided upon by the beneficiaries themselves. The district council workers including Health workers, Community Development Officers participated in training as facilitators.

4.7 Networking and Partnerships

Through the decentralization process, government has openly encouraged collaboration between CSO and the local government for the realization of health sector objectives. The health sector strategic plan launched in March 2010, the completion of Public Private Partnership within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are some of the initiatives the government has adopted towards improving health care services delivery. Within this context, through the reports from the OPMGs and Home Based Care committee, it was realized that there was a need of engaging the services of private health providers to serve the older people.[4]

Networking also played a vital role in raising awareness on the rights and entitlements of older people. MOREPEO managed to engage other nongovernmental organizations in the district to advocate the agenda for older people. This was made possible through strong network between MOREPEO and those organizations. These organizations were HUDESA; Morogoro Paralegal; UNGO Morogoro region; and FARAJA Trust.

Apart from networking helping to strengthen relations and collaborations with other organizations, sharing resources and promoting teamwork, partnership and networking helped to increase access and entitlement of health services to older people and their dependants.

5.0 Conclusion

We have noted the best practice drawn from four councils in Morogoro regions. We acknowledge the dire need to replicate the successes of the project to wider areas within and outside the country; however it should be noted that, best practice may not be applicable in all circumstances depending on the different levels of development, perception of the implementers, cultural or differing circumstances which may not be favorable. However a key strategic talent required when applying best practice to organization is the ability to balance the unique qualities of an organization with the practice that it has in common with others. In addition, a best practice are not static they change as new development and new approaches emerge at different points in time. Nonetheless despite the level of achievements and best practices identified in the implementation of the project, poses new challenges which call upon the local and national government and other stakeholders to focus more on the main problems affecting the older people. It was interesting to note that, despite these best practices there was still lack of disaggregated data about older people a fact which would support planning of older people issues at local government levels. Last but not least, whereas the councils aspire to serve many older people and their dependants, the capacity to do so is limited in terms of resources (financial, human and material resources). The situation is much more critical because after rising the awareness of the older people’s rights there is an increasing demand from the older people while the capacity to fulfill their demands remains limited.

 

 

New Ministry Dealing with Older People is Momentous and Opportune
Tuesday 15 December 2015, Dar es Salaam
The announcement of the new Cabinet of Ministers was a momentous occasion for advocates on the rights of older men and women in Tanzania. For the first time in the country’s history older people will have a specific Ministry devoted to their welfare. According to announcements made by the Government, older people in Tanzania will now be under the new Ministry that is dealing with Health, Social Development, Gender, Older People and Children. The explicit reference to Older People indeed reflects the fact that ageing as an agenda is being given a higher priority in the incoming Government.
Equally well, the inclusion of ageing is also a testament to the efforts of advocates for ageing in Tanzania. According to the 2015 Global AgeWatch Index the number of older people is set to grow exponentially in the coming years, with the bulk of this growth taking place in developing countries such as Tanzania. Measures to prepare for this growth need to be taken now and assigning a responsible Ministry is a step in the right direction.
Opportunely, having a specific ministry will better ensure that the Government is better placed to appreciate and keep up with the changing preferences and needs of Older People. It also offers another way to follow-up on all the commitments made to promote their access to social pension, affordable and appropriate healthcare, to mention a few from among the myriad demands they have been advancing over the years.
This also comes soon after the world leaders agreed the new Sustainable Development Goals, promising to leave no one behind and to be for all people of all ages. “In deed no development strategies can be achieved if older men and women who constitute 5% of the total population are not proactively recognised in planning and budgeting and are not enjoying effective public services’’ says, Ms. Amleset Tewodros, Country Director for HelpAge International.
HelpAge International recognises this positive step and congratulates the Government for its continued efforts and looks forward to more fruitful engagements which bear results. These results include legislating the national policy on ageing so that there is a binding legal framework to support implementation of policies and strategies related to ageing that will be under the Ministry of Health, Social Development, Gender, Older People and Children.
Contact: Eric Ngilangwa, Communications Officer, eric.ngilangwa@helpage.org Tel +255 22 2700169, Cel +255 657 644292 About HelpAge International HelpAge International helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. Our work is strengthened through our global network of like-minded organisations – the only one of its kind in the world.
Location: 134 Migombani Street
Regent Estate Mikocheni
Mailing: P.O.BOX 9846,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255(0)22 2700169, +255(0)22 2774796
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Email: tanzania.office@helpage.org
Website: www.helpage.org

Older men and women listening attentively to the health worker on how to prevent NCDs during their meetings in OP clubs at Sabasaba ward in Morogoro Municipality.

 

 

MABARAZA YA WAZEE VIJIJINI/MITAANI

(KAMA ILIVYO AINISHWA KATIKA SERA YA TAIFA YA WAZEE 2003)

 

Tafsiri/Maelezo

• Sio ya Kisiasa na kila Mzee ana haki ya kushiriki.
• Sio Asasi zisizo za Kiserikali (NGO,CBO,FBO, CSO nk).Kwa maana nyingine mabaraza hayasajiliwi kama NGO.Yakisajiliwa, kisheria hayatatambulika tena kama Mabaraza ya wazee bali yatatambulika kama Asasi zisizo za kiserikali
• Ni ya Kijamii nayanaundwa Vijijini/Mitaani.
• Ni ya kujitegemea na huwapa wazee sauti na nguvu ya kujadili mambo yao kwa utulivu, Uhuru na umakini.
• Hushawishi na kushauri watoa maamuzi kuhusu mambo yanayogusa maisha ya kila siku ya wazee.
• Huendeshwa kidemokrasia zaidi
• Yanaendeshwa na wazee wenyewe kwa ajili ya wazee.
• Wajumbe wote ni wakujitolea
• Wajumbe huamua ajenda zao wenyewe,hushirikishana taarifa mbalimbali na huibua hoja zinazowahusu wao wenyewe na wategemezi wao.
• Ni mfumo unaohusisha wazee katika ngazi ya kijiji/Mtaa.

 

Kwa nini kuwe na mabaraza ya wazee kijijini?

• Kuishauri na kuishawishi serikali na wanasiasa kuboresha huduma kwa wazee na wategemezi wao.
• Kuimarisha utambuzi wa Pamoja wa wazee na kuwapa wazee hali ya kujiona nao ni sehemu muhimu ya jamii.
• Kujadiliana na wawakilishi wa kikatiba na kujitolea kama wawakilishi wa mambo ya yanayo wahusu wazee.
• Kuboresha mawasiliano kati ya wazee na serikali katika hali inayokubalika Kikatiba,halmashauri/Manispaa, Idara ya Ustawi wa jamii, Maendeleo ya Kijanmii,afya, Polisi, n.k

• Kupiga kampeni na kutetea wazee kuhusu masuala ya wazee kwa mashirika , serikali, taasisi za kidini, na watoa huduma wengine wowote.

Wajumbe.

• Ni wazee wote wenye lengo la kutafuta kuboresha hali ya maisha ya wazee wote katika jamii.
• Ujumbe ni automatiki. Kigezo ni kuwa mzee kuanzia miaka 50. Japokuwa hii inaweza kubadilika kulingana na mazingira au mahitaji Fulani.
• Watendaji wa serikali ambao ni wazee wanaoishi katika maeneo hayo wanaweza kuwa wajumbe kwa kigezo cha umri na si nafasi zao serikalini.
• Watendaji wa serikali watakaoalikwa wanaweza kuwa na sauti kama wajumbe wengine.

Uongozi.

• Kila baraza litakuwa na Mwenyekiti, makamu wa Mwenyekiti , Katibu na mtunza Hazina. Nafasi hizi kupendekezwa na kupigiwa kura na wajumbe.
• Wajumbe wawili (Me na Ke) .Hawa ni wakusanya takwimu (OPMG – Older People`s Monitoring Group), kero za huduma za afya,Kipato,haki mbalimbali za wazee
• Uchaguzi hufanyika siku ya mkutano wa uchaguzi kwa tarehe iliyokubalika.
• Ili mzee aweze kuchaguliwa ni lazima apendekezwe na wajumbe na si kujipendekeza mwenyewe.
• Viongozi ni lazima wawe wazee wenyewe na ambao wanakubalika katika kijiji na wenye nia hasa ya kujitolea kuwakilisha wazaee wenzao.
• Baraza litapendekeza kikundi cha watu wachache ambao watasilisha mapendekezo yao na mipango kwa wahusika

• Kundi hili litakalopendekezwa linaweza kuwa la wanaotunza wagonjwa majumbani (HBCs), Wafuatiliaji wa mambo ya sheria (Paralegals), Wafuatiliaji wa masuala ya wazee (OPMGs), waelimisha rika , n.k.

Utendaji

• Baraza linaweza kutumika na serikali( Wabunge,wanasiasa,watendaji, n.k) na taasisi mbalimbali kama chanzo cha habari za wazee, takwimu, na mambo kadhaa ya wazee kabla ya mipango, uboreshaji huduma na utekelezaji wa mambo yanayohusu maisha ya wazee kuanzia kijiji hadi taifa.

• Baraza linaweza pia kuwa kama sehemu ya kiutendaji ya Shirika au mashirika ya wazee yanayofanya kazi kusaidia wazee kijijini au wilayani.

• Wajumbe hukutana kubadilishana mawazo na kupeana taarifa muhimu za maisha yao ili kuleta mabadiliko.

• Baraza huikutana pia kuzungumzia mambo/ kero zinazogusa maisha ya wazee katika eneo lao kama vile afya, huduma za matibabu, pensheni kwa wazee wote na namna nyiongine za kipato kwa wazee, n.k.

• Baraza katika kila wilaya litafanya kazi kusaidia au kutaarifu serikali, mashirika ya kuhudumia wazee, jamii na wazee kuhusu mamboa yanayohusu maisha ya wazee.

Mikutano.

• Inaweza kuamliwa na wajumbe lakini mara nyingi huwa mara moja kwa mwezi.

• Inaweza kuwa ya dharula linapotokea jambo kama msiba/mauaji, uchsaguzi wa dharula, n.k

• Itaitishwa na Katibu kwa kushirikiana na Mwenyekiti.

• Serikali ya kijiji au kata au wilaya inaweza kuhudhuria ili kuweza kujua na kutoa majibu juu ya matatizo yanayokabili wazee wa kijiji/Kata/wilaya husika.

Majukumu.

• Kutoa changamoto,kushauri na kupendekeza mambo kwa ajili ya haki na huduma za wazee.

• Kuchagua viongozi na wafuatiliaji.wanaochaguliwa wanajukumu la kutoa taarifa kwa wazee wote kuhusu maendeleo ya jukumu walilopewa.

• Kuboresha na kupeana maarifa, uzoefu na uwezo wa wazee katika kutatua masuala mbalimbali ya msingi kama huduma za afya , usafiri, miundombinu, kushughulikia kesi mbalimbali, n.k.

• Pamoja na kampeni kwa ajili ya usaidizi, wanaweza kuwa na shughuli za kijamii na kuandaa mikutano ya kuelimisha jamii, kufurahi, mazoezi, kukaribishwa wageni na kupata taarifa mbalimbali.

• Kuwa kama nguzo muhimu ya kiutendaji ya mashirika   au taasisi za kusaidia kuboresha maisha ya wazee na huduma; hata serikali )informal structure).

• Kusaidia kuboresha utambuzi wa mabvo mbalimbali yanayowakabili wazee.

Namna ya kuendesha mabaraza.

• Itisha mkutano wa wazee wote kijijini.

• Amua/ tengeneza vipaumbele vya mambo ya msingi yanayohitaji kuboreshwa kama afya na matibabu, usafiri, ulinzi, kipato, UKIMWI,uelimishaji rika.

• Andaa madhumuni kuhusu masuala hayo au vipaumbele.

• Hakikisha kuna uelewa wa kutosha kuhusu kilichoandikwa katika miongozo ya serikali kama sera, mikakati, mipango na bajeti. Fuatilia habari hizi kwa wataalamu na watendajiwa serikali.

• Jiwekee malengo – unahitaji nini kutoka katika sekta Fulani? Utendaji? huduma?

• Chagua viongozi kwa demokrasia.

• Saidia wajumbe na vuiongozi kubeba na kutekeleza majukumu yao na kufikia malengo. Toa majukumu mapya kama yapo.

• Andaa utaratibu na muundo na kufanyia kazi mambo yanayoleta migogoro au migongano itokanayo na uelewa ili kujenga mahusiano na uelewa wa Pamoja . Hapa ndipo mahali muhimu pa kuandaa masuala ya Pamoja kama sherehe,n.k.

• Kubalianeni kipindi cha mikutano na siku ya kukutana. Itakua vema kutumia eneo moja na muda huohuo uliokubaliwa kila mwezi. Hii ni tofauti na mikutano ya dharula. Hii itarahisisha wajumbe kujua lini wanakutana bila hata kupewa taarifa. Kwa mfano mnaweza kuamua kukutana shuleni kila jummosi ya kwanza ya mwezi

MUHIMU

KUIMARISHA MABARAZA

1. Mabaraza ya wazee yatakutana kila baada ya miezi mitatu:-

• Januari - March
• April – June
• July – September
• October – December.

         (Idara ya Ustawi wa Jamii Wilaya itafuatilia muhtasari wa        kila kikao kwa kila robo mwaka)

1. Baraza linaweza pia kukutana kwa dharula kutokana na masuala muhimu ya wazee yatakayojitokeza kama ajenda ya lazima.
2. Mwenyekiti/Katibu ni lazima kutunza dondoo za mikutano yote kwa manufaa ya rejea hapo baadaye.Kila Baraza la kijiji lina watakwimu wawili (Me na Ke) hawa wanajulikana kama OPMG (Older People Monitoring Group) au OCMG (Older Citizens Monitoring Group): na watatambuliwa na uongozi wa Kijiji, Kata na Wilaya.
3. OPMG/OCMG wamechaguliwa kwa kupigiwa kura na mabaraza ya wazee katika vijiji.
4. Kazi ya OPMG/OCMG ni kukusanya taarifa na takwimu mbalimbali na hususani kuhusu huduma za afya kwa wazee katika viyuo vya afya vya serikali.
5. Jukumu la pili la OPMG/OCMG ni kutembelea Wazee na kujaza fomu maalum kuhusu uelewa wa wazee kuhusu taratibu za mchakato wa kuomba mikopo kwa ajili ya kukuza kip[ato kwa wazee.OPMG/OCMG (Me na Ke) watajaza fomu moja (Afya /Kipato) kwa Pamoja wakishirikiana kupata taarifa sahii kila mwezi toka kwa wazee wote.
6. Kila watakwimu (2) watafanya ufafanuzi wa taarifa/takwimu walizokusanya katika kijiji chao kuhusu masuala ya wazee.
7. Katika ngazi ya Kata , watakwimu (OPMG/OCMG) wa vijiji wote watakutana mara moja kila mwezi.(Watakubaliana wenyewe tarehe ya mkutano kila mwezi)
8. Kila watakwimu wa kijiji watahudhulia katika kikao cha watakwimu wa Kata wote wakiwa na fomu za taarifa/takwimu zao.
9. Kwa Pamoja watakwimu wa Kata watafanya majumuisho ya takwimu za kila kijiji na kupata tafsiri na takwimu za kata nzima.
10. Tafsiri za majumuisho ya Takwimu za Kata nzima itatumika kama ushahidi wa uelewa wa Wazee na changamoto zinazowakabili.
11. Baadhi ya changamoto zilizo ndani ya uwezo wa baraza la Wazee zinajadiliwa na Baraza la Wazee na kupatiwa utatuzi.
12. Huduma zinazowezekana kuchangiwa na jamii zitashughulikiwqa katika ngazi ya kijiji.
13. Changamoto zilizo nje ya uwezo wa kijiji na baraza la Wazee yanayopelekwa katika ngazi ya Kata (WDC) na mwakilishi wa Kata wa Wazee katika Baraza la Kata.

Imeaandaliwa na

Peter Alexander Mwita

Programme Manager

Morogoro Elderly People`s Organization (MOREPEO)

Boma road, Riti Area, Ushirika Building,Morogoro,Tanzania.

+255 785 938891

+255 622 938891

+255 759 119798

          

AFR611 (SIDA Contribution No. 21500161)

Program Title: Strengthening universal access to HIV and Social Protection services to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015

 

SUCCESS STORY/CASE STUDY

 

Implementation of this project has managed to change the attitude of key decision markers, religious leaders and all target districts, NGOs, and FBOs from Villages/Mtaa, Wards, District and Regional levels in response to improved service delivery to vulnerable groups and the inclusion of their issues into their plans and budget.

 

For years of its inception MOREPEO identified HIV/AIDS as a challenge   which   gives   older   people a burden   of caring PLWHA and grand/great grandchildren   orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Badly enough even   the Tanzania   National HIV/AIDS policy is unfriend to OP of 60 years and above.

 

This problem is a very serious situation because it affects the wellbeing /health rights of all older people. In this case, there is a need for the government and its stakeholders to make sure that this problem is solved.

 

Mzee Mohamed   Selemani Yusuf 72 years old a beneficiary of   165,000/= and a second loan of  112,500/- standing in his Kiosk. when asked to comment for the said problem had the following to say about:-

 

“My name is Mohamed Selemani Yusuf, aged 72 years old. I have been at Rudewa in Kilosa district council for all my life (about 62 years). I am married   with 5children (F-3 and M-2),10 grand children ( F- 4and M-5 and 3great grandchildren (F2,M1). 8 children live in D`salaam, 8 of my grand children (2 girls and 6 boys) stay with me . I am very sad that I lost my 3 daughters and 1 son   because of HIV/AIDS for the past six years ago. Since 2012 to date, MOREPEO in collaboration with HelpAge International and in collaboration with the Kilosa district Council conducted several sensitization and engagement meetings in order to influence to influence the inclusion of older people in their district plans and budgets. The meetings involved health workers, key decision, district TASAF coordinator, policy makers, department heads and older people representatives. I am among the OP representatives who attended all the meetings . Not at all I was Identified   by the OPF leadership to attend a three day Entrepreneurship   training ,after the training I was given Loan as an IGA input of Tshs 165,000/= to establish my small business. In 2014 I was also given 112,500/= to scale- up my project.

 

For the past years health services in the government health facilities was very poor. older people had to pay for medical services. But after the sensitization meetings conducted to the key health workers, the situation has changed. Now all health facilities owned by the government are providing free medication to all older people of 60 years and above and we are now attending VCT for   our health tests. They have set aside special rooms to attend older people. They do not use abusive language as they were doing before.

 

With all achievements, still there are challenges

• No professional/trained doctor Mostly for Older people.
• Shortage of drugs in all government facilities. In steady we are required to buy medicine in the pharmacy shops. I remember one month ago one of our older people died of diarrhea because the hospital could not provide him the required drugs.” It pains.”

In older to solve those challenges, MOREPEO influenced the district council to pay us  CHF premium in order for us and our dependants to benefit free medication.

 

 

“I got a loan of Tshs. 165,000/= which I used to improve my Kiosk business. I managed to pay it back. I am very thankful for the scale-up loan of Tshs. 112,500 given to me now to enable me do better than ever before” Thank our almighty God that, before I was identified through OPFs and OPMGs/OCMs, my life was worse I could not manage to have even two meals a day. I and my dependants were surviving by having a cup of porridge each per day. ‘’That was my life’’. The community isolated us because of our poverty, but now my life has changed,I have many friends who are coming for financial support. I and my dependants are having three balanced meals a day, I am now paying school fees for my grandchildren , my financial situation is improving as I have many customers in the village who are coming to buy goods at my KIOSK. I have come to realize that , every big businesses we see around   the world started with little amount of money as I have started Kiosk business.’’

“ I am very thankful to   MOREPEO my village OPFs   members, village, ward and the Kilosa district council   for the effort they are doing to strengthen universal access to HIV and Social Protection services, to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS and poverty in our locality ,district, region and at national level’’.