Background
Following the successful ORET-funded project to improve diagnostic services in 98 public hospitals in Tanzania between 1997-2004 (read more about this project
here) and the feasibility study carried out in 2007 towards a follow-up project which was never implemented because of the discontinuation of the ORET grant facility (read more about this
here), in 2009 the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Tanzania (MoHSW) decided to pursue new ways to reach their goal of improving the healthcare infrastructure and services in the country. Strengthening maternal and newborn care, surgery and diagnostic services at district, and regional hospitals remained a priority, as well as the upgrading of diagnostic services at specialized hospitals. Since the recently established ORIO Facility for Infrastructure Development seemed to offer promising financing opportunities, the MoHSW requested AMPC’s support to write an ORIO grant application based on the 2007 feasibility study, and to carry out the development of the project if the grant would be awarded.
Goals
To ensure financing for and to carry out the development of a comprehensive hospital infrastructure project aimed at improving Tanzania’s referral healthcare system by upgrading maternal and newborn care, surgery and diagnostic services nationwide.
Approach
In 2009, AMPC prepared a project proposal to apply for ORIO-funding. After the project was selected as eligible and the grant arrangement was signed, the development phase of the project started.
Based on extensive site visits to district, regional, municipal and specialized/referral hospitals on the Tanzania Mainland, 36 hospitals have now been selected to be included in the project. For each hospital, needs were assessed with regard to infrastructural works and installation of equipment, as well as human resources and training based on which a full project proposal is currently being developed.
Results
2009: ORIO-grant awarded
2010: start of the development phase of the project, currently still ongoing