The United Republic of TanzaniaMinistry of Health and Social Welfare

Health Sector Strategic Plan

III

July 2009 – June 2015

“Partnership for Delivering the MDGs”

Foreword

Focus of the third Health Sector Strategic Plan 2009 – 2015 (HSSP III), will beon “Partnership for delivering the Millennium Development Goals”. Year 2015is the target year for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) and the end year for the HSSP III. This strategic plan therefore,contributes to Tanzania’s efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality and tocontrol important infectious diseases, as well as, in its efforts to improve theenvironment and access to clean water. We believe that, the health sectorcan make an important contribution to the reduction of poverty and hunger inTanzania. The Government of Tanzania is fully committed to achieving theMDGs, which are part of the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction ofPoverty (in Kiswahili: MKUKUTA). Although in recent years, progress hasbeen made in the reduction of child and infant mortality, the maternal andneonatal mortality remain, persistently high. There is still some work to bedone, before Tanzania can claim that, it has achieved its MDGs.In the coming years, the health sector will embark on two major programmes,the Primary Health Services Development Programme (in Kiswahili: MMAM)and the Human Resources for Health Strategic Plan. These programmes willimprove accessibility and quality of health services and contribute to achievingthe MDGs. The programmes are important in improving the health of thepopulation. Thus, the focus of the HSSP III is on Partnership.The Decentralisation by Devolution (D-by-D) policy of the Government, hasput the Local Government Authorities (LGAs), in charge of delivering socialservices and has given the Prime Minister’s Office - Regional Administrationand Local Government (PMO-RALG), the task to monitor/supervise andcoordinate their activities, in line with the policies and guidelines of theSectoral Ministries. In the area of Health, other Ministries, Departments andAgencies, are also supposed to support the Ministry of Health and SocialWelfare, in improving the health of its people, i.e. through education,agriculture or water supply. The health sector has to work in partnership withall government institutions that are responsible for services that have impacton health.Partnership with the private sector is also necessary, to increase accessibilityand quality of health services. The private sector consists of all non-stateactors, i.e. Faith Based Organisations, Non-Government Organisations,Community Based Organisations and all other Private Health Providers. TheService Agreements between Government and Private Service Providers,offer opportunities for a regulated collaboration. We believe that, by joininghands, with all who can provide services to improve the health of the people,is beneficial for the Development of the Country.Our Development Partners provide the health sector with the neededfinancial, technical and moral support. In 2008, a new Memorandum ofUnderstanding for the Health Basket Fund was signed, which is an important