Ireland-funded project boosts healthcare services in Pangani
PANGANI: YOUTH and children in Pangani District, Tanga, are set to benefit from improved access to healthcare services through the Afya Himilivu Project, funded by the Embassy of Ireland and implemented by Amref Health Africa Tanzania in partnership with the Government of Tanzania.
The project supports efforts to strengthen maternal and child health, nutrition services, youth-friendly healthcare, community health programmes and climate-resilient health infrastructure.
Part of the initiative includes: a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre for children with severe acute malnutrition and a Youth-Friendly Service Unit have been inaugurated at Pangani District Hospital, alongside climate-smart infrastructure, including solar power and rainwater harvesting systems.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Nicola Brennan, joined Pangani District Commissioner Mwanaidi Rajabu and other officials for the inauguration of the facilities.
“What matters most is not just having a beautiful building, but what happens inside it,” Ms Brennan said, highlighting the importance of providing children with the nutrition and care they need to grow, develop intellectually and become productive members of their communities.
She also stressed the importance of creating safe spaces where young people can openly discuss their challenges, access peer support and seek help when needed.
According to the district’s project implementation report, the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre is built at a cost of 81m/-, while the Youth-Friendly Service Unit costs 58m/-.
The project has also invested 99 million shillings in solar power and rainwater harvesting systems at Pangani District Hospital, Madanga Health Centre and Kwakibuyu Dispensary to improve the reliability of essential utilities and strengthen the facilities’ resilience to climate-related challenges.
Beyond infrastructure, the initiative has trained 192 community health workers from all 96 hamlets in Pangani District to support the delivery of healthcare services at community level.
It has also trained 29 health professionals in respectful maternity care and 29 in identifying and treating malnutrition among children under five.
In efforts to improve access to youth-friendly services, 30 health teachers from all 15 secondary schools in the district have received training, alongside 187 community health workers.
The project has further supported nutrition education, reaching 28,926 community members over two years through quarterly Village Health and Nutrition Days.
Meanwhile, 87 community health workers from six wards have received training in identifying and reporting suspected disease outbreaks and other emergencies, strengthening local disease surveillance and early warning systems.
Pangani District Commissioner Mwanaidi Rajabu welcomed the investment and called for continued government support to ensure the facilities remain operational and benefit communities over the long term.
Amref Health Africa Tanzania Country Director, Dr Florence Temu, said collaboration between the government and development partners is vital to strengthening healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes for children and young people.
The Afya Himilivu Project is a three-year initiative launched in Pangani District in May 2024. It supports government efforts to improve maternal and child health, nutrition, community health services, disease surveillance and preparedness for climate-related health risks.
