20 Apr A national community rights and gender costed action plan development workshop for the community rights and gender assessment recommendations in Tanzania
[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”normal” thickness=”2″ up=”20″ down=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2987″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1587340085058{padding-bottom: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_text]This workshop brought together 33 stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government Authority, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Minerals, TB survivors, civil society, community groups, TB experts and development partners.
The stakeholders team led by the Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS and Health Service Organizations (EANNASO), the national tuberculosis and leprosy program (NTLP) and consultants analyzed earlier findings from the community, rights and gender assessments and recently disseminated studies such as the gender study commissioned by the Ministry of Health, as part of the mid-term review of the National Health Strategy, Tanzania TB Community priority charter and TB in Mining studies.
Health Needs Assessment (HNA) was conducted for people who use drugs, slum dwellers and health care workers to identify unmet health needs. The results of the HNA were consolidated with the initial results to develop a list of priorities which were used to develop the action plan. Participants were divided into groups, each focusing on one area (i.e. gender and stigma, human rights, legal, multispectral) to come up with priority recommendations for the action plan. The stakeholders also identified and prioritised a list of TB key and vulnerable populations for Tanzania using the Stop TB Data for Action Framework Key.
The community, rights and gender action plan is expected to transform the national TB response so that it is rights-based, gender-transformative, people-centered, promotes an end to stigma and discrimination of TB patients and builds accountability that will help to find the missing people with TB.
The event brought together various key players of the TB response to ensure ownership of the operational plan and coordination of activities; and government stakeholders to ensure a multi-sectoral response.
Key communities were represented at the workshop to talk about issues that act as barriers and inform decisions on TB programming. They were able to share experiences and stories that otherwise may not have been heard. This was an opportunity for stakeholders to learn more on community interventions and future plans.
The next steps include mobilizing resources to fund the action plan especially through the Global Fund country grant and other funding opportunities from Stop TB Partnership such as Challenge Facility for Civil Society and USAID. There are plans to disseminate the action plan to various stakeholders such as government ministries, civil society, NGOs and TB Caucus.
Implementation of the action plan will be monitored through the Tanzania TB community network and the Strategic Initiative.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]