The United States government commits to support the government of Tanzania’s effort to fight COVID-19

Today, in Dodoma, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially launched the Strengthening COVID-19 Case Management in Regional Referral Hospitals project. Key attendees were the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response Dr. Elias Kwesi, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Aifello Sichalwe. The new project aims to ensure health facilities provide the best care for COVID-19 patients with critical needs, ultimately improving their chances and speed of recovery. The project will strengthen health care workers’ management of these cases to enable an effective, lifesaving, and sustainable COVID-19 response.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global emergency with unprecedented reach and rapidly evolving health system challenges. In Tanzania, the U.S. government is committed to working side by side with the Government of Tanzania on their National COVID-19 Response Plan. This includes partnering with all stakeholders in Tanzania’s health sector to mitigate the pandemic’s effects and ensure the health and safety of the entire community. USAID’s broad support includes mitigating the impact of the pandemic on society, equitable access and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations, reducing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19, and preventing and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on HIV/AIDS relief programs and beneficiaries. To date, USAID has invested a total of $25.1 million in these areas.

This $750,000, ten-month project will support four Regional Referral Hospitals: Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital in Dodoma, Bombo Regional Referral Hospital in Tanga, Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital in Arusha, and Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital in Mwanza. It is implemented by Save the Children. The funds will support the provision of oxygen therapy equipment and training for health care workers. Training will focus on the appropriate use and maintenance of the equipment, in order to provide quality services and expand critical care for COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress. Training will also include the development and distribution of job aids based on approved national guidelines, as well as follow-up support for oxygen therapy after the departure of trainers. 

Speaking at today’s launch, USAID Project Management Specialist Dr. Miriam Kombe remarked, “This support includes mitigating the impact of the pandemic on society, equitable access and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations, reducing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19, and preventing and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on our AIDS relief programs and beneficiaries.”

Dr. Kombe continued, “The COVID-19 pandemic is among the most pressing challenges to the health, well-being, and economic security of all people. We must work together to address this pandemic with urgency.”