Dodoma.Tanzania imekuwa ni miongoni mwa nchi ambazo bado zinakabiliwa na changamoto ya udumavu wa kimo na akili kwa watoto.
Changamoto hiyo imebainishwa kwenye ripoti ya utafiti uliofanywa na Taasisi ya Chakula na Lishe Tanzania wa mwaka 2022, kwamba mtoto mmoja kati ya watatu wenye umri kati ya mwaka 0-5 wanakabiliwa na tatizo la udumavu wa kimo na akili.
Hayo yamesemwa leo Jumamosi Februari 22, 2025 na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Taasisi ya Chakula na Lishe Tanzania, Dk Germana Leyna wakati wa ufunguzi wa mkutano wa kutathmini maendeleo ya Tanzania kuhusu ahadi zake katika mkutano wa kimataifa wa lishe na ukuaji (N4G).
Amesema mtoto aliyepata udumavu kutokana na kukosa lishe, bila hatua za haraka kuchukuliwa anaweza kupata athari za kudumu kitendo ambacho si sawa katika jamii, ndio maana Serikali kwa kushirikiana na sekta binafsi wamekuwa wakikutana mara kwa mara kuhakikisha suala la udumavu linatokomezwa
“Hatua mbalimbali zinachukuliwa na Serikali kwa ajili ya kukabiliana na udumavu Kwa watoto, lakini pia kuhakikisha jamii inafuata taratibu za uandaaji wa lishe bora,” amesema Dk Leyna.
Hata hivyo, amesema upungufu wa vitamini na madini ambavyo ni sehemu ya lishe vinachangia udumavu kwa watoto, hivyo jamii inapaswa kuvizingatia katika uandaaji wa lishe.
Amesema visababishi hivyo vimekuwa vikiathiri pia wanawake walio katika umri wa kuzaa, kutokana na changamoto ya utapiamlo uliozidi uzito, ambapo kwa takwimu za mwaka 2022 zinaonyedha kuwa asilimia 37 ya wanawake wana uzito uliozidi, wakati wanaume waliozidi umri ni asilimia 17.
“Moja ya mikakati tuliojiwekea katika majadiliano yetu ni kuhakikisha hadi ifikapo 2030 Tanzania imeondokana na tatizo hili la utapiamlo,” amesema Dk Leyna.
Amesema kiwango cha unyonyeshaji kwa akina mama kimeongezeka kutoka asilimia 50 hadi asilimia zaidi ya 70 kitendo ambacho kinaonyesha kuna kazi kubwa inafanyika katika kuhakikisha jamii inatekeleza kwa asilimia kubwa masuala ya lishe.
Kwa upande wake msimamizi kiongozi wa Afya na Lishe kutoka World Vision Tanzania, Elizabeth Ndaba amesema moja ya nyanja ambazo inatekeleza katika maeneo mbalimbali ni pamoja na kwenye kukabiliana na utapiamlo kwa watoto, katika elimu pamoja na sekta ya afya ambapo wamekuwa wakitoa afua mbalimbali ambazo zinasaidia jamii.
“Shirika limekuwa likishirikiana na Serikali katika nyanja mbalimbali, ikiwemo utekelezaji wa N4G katika ahadi ambazo Serikali imejiwekea” amesema Ndaba.
Ameongeza kuwa World Vision itaendelea kushirikiana na serikali kupitia mradi wao wa Inatosha unaolenga kupunguza tatizo la utapiamlo katika maeneo mbalimbali Nchini.
Source: mwananchi.co.tz
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
