Canada dishes out 333bn/- for health, education 

THE Canadian government has announced a total of 178.5 million Canadian dollars (CAD) (approximately 333.1bn/-) for financing health and education sectors in the country.

The support was announced in separate events by the Canadian Minister for International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency Mr Harjit Sajjan, who is in the country to see a number of projects being funded by his country.

According to the minister out of that, some 128.5 million CAD (about 240bn) will finance five health projects aimed at improving quality health care services in the country.

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On the other hand, the remaining amount-50-million Canadian dollars (CAD) (approximately 93.1bn/-) will fund two projects in education namely Every Adolescent Girl Learns (EAGL) and Employment through Skills Programme (ESP).

Elaborating, out of the fund directed to the health sector, some 140bn/- will be channeled to the health basket fund, where 94 per cent is already in the government’s coffers.

He commended the government for its commitment to reduce maternal mortality and to end the preventable deaths of newborns and children as well as championing gender equality, health and rights of women and girls.

The Canadian Minister said as they have been allowed to pool resources, they are supporting over 6,000 health facilities in the country and strengthening the health system.

He said the fund will also support the life-saving essential primary health care services such as antenatal and postnatal care, emergence obstetric and newborn care.

“It is critical to increase delivery of adolescent-friendly and gender sensitive health services in Tanzania,” he underscored.

Speaking during the event, Minister for Health, Ms Ummy Mwalimu thanked the Canadian government for the support saying the disbursed 94bn/- will be channeled to dispensaries, health and district hospitals.

“The support to the health basket fund has had a positive impact as 90 per cent of pregnant women delivering in health facilities increased the use of family planning from 32 to 38 per cent and cut short early pregnancies from 27 to 22 per cent,” she further pointed out.

On education support, she said the 25 million EAGL CAD project aims at improving learning outcomes and awareness for girls at upper primary and secondary levels.

The EAGL project to be implemented by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) with support from Global Affairs of Canada is aligned with President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan commitment in accelerating access to quality education for all and in advancing and focusing on the girl child.

During the education funding announcement event witnessed by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, the Canadian Minister also announced an addition of 25-million CAD  for Employment through Skills Programme (ESP) project.

The project being run by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) seeks to promote alternative pathways to education for women and adolescent girls.

He said the project also aims at increasing women participation in skills training programme and improve their access to business skills and human rights training in their communities.

“It will provide post-training support to help with the transition from graduation to employment or self employment, when women and girls have equal opportunities to succeed, they can be powerful agents of change” said Mr Sajjan.

He added that: “Let’s put women at the centre of everything we do, I assure the group of adequate allocation of resources and let’s empower women and girls because this is how we will achieve sustainable development.”

ESP will support the economic empowerment of women and adolescent girls with skills training and tailored support through transitions to employment and self employment.

The project will also strengthen the capacity of 12 Folk Development Colleges and 12-community based organisations and provide them with opportunities to forge with Canadian colleges and Institutes as 7,000 people will directly come across the communities.

He expressed the Canadian government’s commitment to support Tanzania as a long time partner in the education sector to improve the quality of education, and access to education in both   primary and secondary for girls and boys.

The Canadian Minister said over the past 14-years, Canada has provided over 250-million CAD to the country’s education system.

Likewise, Prof Mkenda thanked the Canadian government for the timely support as the government is transforming education sector for inclusive education quality.

He said they will put in place infrastructures to support effective implementation of the two projects whose fundings were released on Thursday.

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