Inclusive health services in Tanzania

Background information

In rural Tanzania, poor infrastructure is a barrier to accessing healthcare. Distances are great and the effects of climate change are exacerbating the destruction of the transport infrastructure. High poverty rates mean that a large proportion of the population can neither afford the transportation costs for distant facilities nor health insurance. This is a burden that is disproportionately borne by women, who are largely responsible for caring for the elderly, children or the sick. For people with disabilities, there is very limited health care and little awareness of their rights and needs. Their stigmatization remains high. There are few organizations in Tanzania that support and promote people with disabilities. Persistently high HIV rates in the southern highlands of Tanzania, combined with non-communicable diseases (diabetes, heart disease, cancer) have led to a high number of people with chronic illnesses.

Project goals

Overall Objectives:

Health care for marginalized and particularly vulnerable population groups in the southern highlands of Tanzania is improved through community-based prevention and rehabilitation measures.

Subgoals:

• Improved prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases (including cancer)
• Improved access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities
• Improving the economic situation of marginalized and vulnerable people
• Increased awareness of holistic healthcare

Target groups

• Residents of rural areas in the South West Province of the MCT, especially the socially and economically disadvantaged
• People with disabilities
• Multipliers in society

Activities

• Construction of a rehabilitation center with facilities for therapy and training rooms
• Provision of aids for people with disabilities and range of rehabilitative and therapeutic measures
• Health insurance for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups
• Training in the areas of health prevention, domestic violence, non-communicable diseases or income generation
• Trainings on gender-based violence and violence against children
• Support and care for HIV-positive persons
• Training and further education of project staff
• Awareness campaigns on the rights of people with disabilities and on the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases

Tanzania health project: A film gives an insight into the day-to-day running of the project

A life with HIV: children and young people help themselves

Project progress

At the end of the 2025 reporting year, there are now a total of 570 trained volunteers who support people with a physical disability and their families in the municipalities. In discussions, they clarify what needs the project participants have and what support would be helpful. As a result, 119 people received aids such as wheelchairs, canes for the blind or prostheses. Important medical examinations that are not covered by health insurance were paid for 28 people. In order to compensate somewhat for the loss of USAID activities in the Mbeya region, 2025 invested heavily in HIV prevention - specifically in education and testing.

In 22 savings groups, people with a disability were given access to small loans to start income-generating projects so that they have a higher income. The volunteers mentioned above were also trained in this area so that they can also support people in their communities.

There are plans to start building a rehabilitation and training center in 2026 in order to meet the great demand for holistic support for people with physical disabilities.