Tanzania is heavily affected by the HIV epidemic, as well as by other communicable and non communicable diseases. Among economically active women and men in the age group of 30 – 39 years, more than 10% are HIV positive. Malaria, TB, and life-style related chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases, take a large toll among the working population thus leading to absenteeism and loss of qualified workers.
TGPSH supports public and private sector partners in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of comprehensive employee wellness programmes. The goal is to maintain a healthy workforce but also to extend the reach of the supported workplace interventions to the families and communities of the employees.
Since 2007, TGPSH is providing technical support to implement workplace interventions on HIV & AIDS to 10 ministries and government institutions, as well as to regional administration and local government councils in Tanga and Mtwara Regions. The interventions are carried out by Health Focus, a German consultancy company, in cooperation with the Tanzania Public Service College.
In the public sector, between July 2007 and June 2011, 259 focal persons and coordinators, and 338 peer educators were trained in the 10 supported ministries, departments and agencies to plan, implement and monitor HIV interventions in their workplaces.
By the end of June 2011, a total of 18,845 public servants at all levels had participated in seminars on HIV and AIDS. Of the participating employees, 7,046 (37%) used voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) services offered on-site during the trainings.
In the private sector, at Mponde Tea Estate and in 34 surrounding villages, 78 peer educators have been trained since early 2010.
Employees are benefitting from weekly peer education sessions and thousands of villagers from monthly sensitization and VCT campaigns Until September 2011, 9822 villagers participated in the campaigns, out of those 8413 got tested for HIV (86%
Workers receive information about CHF and are encouraged to enroll. Since August 2010, 40,8% of the tea farmers in the community and 100% of the Mponde factory workers have joined the CHF. The Mponde PPP increases the amount of funds available for health care services in Lushoto district.
„The workers are at their workstation! The workers‘ health has improved“
Mr.Wahome, Factory Manager , Mponde Tea Estate
With TGPSH's support a company health facility was opened in mid 2010. Until October 2011, the Mponde Health Post has offered services to 6337 clients which included workers from the factory and their families, as well as community members from surrounding villages.
