Dear "Ankal" Michuzi.
Thanks so much for continuing to provide Tanzanians with uncontaminated and relevant information through your blog. I would like to acknowledge your effort and those of who are doing the same in the threads posted and in other forums too.
I would like to kindly request you to give me a space on your blog to share my personal appraisal of the situation at the moment.
As a stakeholder in the health sector and so do you, improving the quality and safety of health services in this country and wherever else, requires meeting the needs and expectations of both internal [healthcare workers] and external [patients and community] customers. These needs and expectations are variable but at the end of the day they are all determinant factors for success.
My analysis of this situation, doctors are for the first time in history demanding for both internal and external customers rights, expectations and needs. I am a bit disappointed by the breeze of the discussion in the sense that everyone is so focused on that doctors should return as the as the government should be addressing their needs. One could argue that this are possible, but think about hepatitis B vaccine – such a crucial but affordable intervention. Currently the Ministry is not providing for this and it is truly unacceptable.
What about medical insurance for doctors? In several occasions I have been approached by colleagues that we make a contribution for fellow doctors who are admitted at Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute and other private hospital, and yet this are the key provider of the service in the country. I can not over-emphasize how the wages are a total mismatch with what these individuals do bearing in mind current inflation rates and the like.
The external ones are more important and I bet if the community could have understood about this, may be they could be the ones denying to go to facilities. These doctors have been complaining about lack of infrastructure, materials, supplies and equipment, factors of which truly compromise the safety and quality of the services offered to patients albeit doctors presence in the facilities.
There are some anecdotal reports on the lack of stuff listed hereunder in a number of reputable hospitals in the country
- Lack or non-functional sterilization facilities [meaning that patients can end up acquiring preventable infections during the course of surgeries and other procedures]
- Lack or inadequate running water and lack of water taps in the facilities [we all know that hand hygiene is the single cheap but efficient and effective intervention]
- Lack of incinerators [meaning that the waste from hospitals get access to the community un-checked, a situation that leads into transmission of infections to the naive community]
- Inconsistent power supply in hospitals
- Lack of maintenance of various equipment rendering hospitals “equipmentless”
These are just examples, but my point is I am not seeing a clear strategy in trying to address these issues, and it is high time that the government take care of the internal clients needs and promptly work together in addressing the external clients needs starting with the most life-threatening ones. There are people in the country who could work with the government in coming up with solutions if given opportunity.
I submit
Your points are very valid, but they will not be understood by majority of Tanzania because of language barrier and inaccessibility. Please send an article in several swahili dailies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, such truth need to be articulated by politicians and journalists to the common masses so that the points are driven home. It is hugely amazing how some MPs were vocal on the Kogamboni ferry saga but now they are mute with regard to this profoundly important pablic interest issue!.
E bwana Big Up sana kwa ku-High light hizi issue.Wasiwasi wangu nikwamba wanasiasa hawataelewa hoja na mtazamo wa kitaalamu km huu na badala yake watakuja na ooh madaktar mlikula kiapo,ooh watu wanakufa bila kujua kwamba kwa mazingira ya sasa yahospial zetu na ukosefu wa vifaa vifo ni lazima hata km madaktar wakiwepo kazini.
ReplyDeleteJaman tuwe wakweli,hivi km hospitalini hata maji ya mabomba hayatoki hapo kuna tiba gani hata km Doctors watakuwepo?Doctors wanatakiwa kuosha mikono kila baada ya kudeal na mgonjwa mmoja sasa km maji hamna itakuaje km sio kuambukizana magonjwa?
Wadau acheni ushabiki wa vyama vya siasa wote tuungane kuishinikiza serikali kutekeleza mapendekezo ya madaktari na tuwaunge mkono madaktari ktk hili na sio kuwalaumu na kuwalaani km mdau mmoja alivyosema juzi hapa.
Well noted.Thank you so much.Now, who are those people in the country whom you are saying can work with the government in coming up with solutions if given opportunity??Mention them usiogope!
ReplyDeleteKeep well
David VI
Kma uamuzi ni mgomo hakuna siasa hapa.Suala kubwa tuendelee na kujadiliana na serikali,kwa shinikizo la mazungumzo kiasi kutakuwa na mafanikio.
ReplyDeleteTatizo letu ni mgomo.Huu mgomo unamsaidia na kumuumiza nani?Kuna serikali ndiyo,lakini unapogoma haifi,wanaokufa ni wananchi amabo utmesoma kwa ajili yao.
Tupiganie haki kwa mazungumzo tu yatosha.Misri,Libya,Tunisia wamegoma na wamepata serikali wanazozitaka,lakini angalia walichovuna na wanchoendelea kuvuna.
Najua kuna tofauti ya kinachofanyika katika nchi nilizozitana na Tanzania,lakini mwanzo wa makubwa ni madogo.
Kuna haja ya kugomaa?Huyu bwana maeainisha vizuri na ameleza vizuri tena naona muungwana huyu.Sawa,lakini kuna haja ya kugoma?
As a proffessionallist who faced difficulties in long academic way and working area, you should stand forward demanding accordind per contract, internatinal policies and proffessional requirements. Stand firm for your right. SENTIVE MATTER SHOULD HANDLED ACCORDINGLY WITH NO PLITICAL ELEMENTS. Doctors don't be like teachers who are betrayed daily by their after-profit leaders and government. Don't be like workers who don't their VALUE. ANDIKA KWA KISWAHILI!!
ReplyDeletebeen in tanzania several times my country and i love it. Nipo kwenye medical field solution ya Tanzania ni mgomo kwa kweli haya ni maoni yangu lakini tuna deal na watu ambao wakiumwa wanaenda kutibiwa india and i will do the same kutokana na hali iliyokuwepo. Madaktari hawajaliwi sioni sababu ya doctor kunitibu nimuone huruma to the point ya kumpa tip kutokana na mazingira with low pay anayokuhadithia its sad. Tatizo uongozi mbovu na watu hawajali mdau uliyesema eti turataje watu wanaoweza mimi nawajua badala ya sisi kuka kwenye nchi za watu we can go and change stuff sasa kila mtu akikimbia tutaishia kwenye blogs. SISI KAMA WATANZANIA TUSHIKAMANE NA KUKOMBOA TAIFA LETU SHARING IDEAS AND WHATEVER CAN BE DONE TUFANYE NA KITAFANIKIWA.
ReplyDeleteKugoma ni uuaji. Kwani nafasi ya kukaa mezani kwa njia rasmi zimeisha? Doctors are not Gods.
ReplyDeleteIm not surprised by this. That day I saw people booing their national team, I knew there wud come a day we shall celebrate setting our own residence on fire.
ReplyDelete