Emily Bell — TB and malaria remain major killers in Tanzania

For the month of August, the Who Cares? Campaign will focus on how malaria and tuberculosis impact the healthcare system in Tanzania.

Often the stepchildren to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis collectively kill nearly three million people each year.  In Tanzania alone, malaria and TB account for nearly 22% of the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) loss.  Significant investment has been channeled into vertical initiatives – addressing the specific diseases rather than the entire health system – to target these diseases, achieving mixed results.  The Touch Foundation’s recent diagnostic study, Catalyzing Change- Molecular strengthening of the health system in the Tanzanian Lake Zone, reveals that such investment is compromised, in part, due to the lack of integration to the existing health system.

With malaria, for instance, the lack of diagnostic equipment and limited health worker training severely inhibit effective treatment.  Due to its fast and short life cycle, malaria needs to be diagnosed quickly- getting treatment in the first 48 hours of the disease often means the difference between life and death.  Without diagnostic tools and with only poor access to health facilities, this window of opportunity can easily be missed. During the onset for malaria, for example, frequent misdiagnosis occurs due to lack of laboratory access. The study also reveals that only 26% of dispensaries have blood smear testing to properly diagnose for malaria and during the treatment phase; nearly 40% of the health facilities lack second line drugs needed to properly treat malaria.

Though vertical investment in both malaria and TB has made impact in Tanzania, it is clear that significant opportunities exist for focusing on Tanzania’s health systems, particularly on human resource capacity in which to optimize such vertical investments. The World Health Organization estimates the current deficit of health workers in Tanzania to be around 90,000. Join the Who Cares? Campaign today to help us address this deficit and to put a stop to malaria and TB.

Emily Bell is Head of Advocacy and Communications at the Touch Foundation.