Curretly one of my biggest concerns is the increasing number orphans in Tanzania.
Like most developing countries, Tanzania is faced with a huge number of poverty related problems.
This means, like any developing country the government can only do so much for its people. There are no safety nets such as social welfare, general health insurance, free secondary school education or any government plan that can support a person if you can't make money for yourself.
At least if a child has a parent, we can help the parent to learn some skills so that he/she can be able to make money and support his/her children.
But what about the Orphans? Current statistics show that 6 out of 10 children are born with HIV virus. Most parents die at the very early stage of their children lives because HIV virus weakens the immunity, and this makes it easier for the number 1 enemy, Malaria, to kill even faster.
Unfortunatelly there is no magical way to control Malaria, unless we can hold a conference with the Anopheles mosquitos and say ''look here, you have done enough damage,can we make a deal?''
Anyway, our responsibility is to the Orphans. This new generation of young people need our support and all the love we can give, that they will never have from their parents.
Some orphans are lucky enough to get shelter, but at a certain age they have to leave this shelter. They have to leave this shelter at an age when their agemates who have families, are still at home and enjoying the support of their parents in every way. Where should these orphans go? What are they supposed to do with the rest of their lives with no formal education?
The saddest thing is that, when they become street children people avoid them even more.
Once I had to interview street children about their individual lives, and I was devastated to hear about the horrifying places they have to sleep. Most of them have been abused several times and there is no law to protect them. No one takes the word of a street child ...... they are social phariahs which is most unfortunatelly.
For their normal meals, they eat from dumpsters, which doesn't make their immunity system any stronger.
Many of the street children say,sometimes they are so hungry they have to steal food at open markets ... and this might come as a shock to you, but people actually chase and throw stones at the ''thieves'' and if they manage to catch the thief before the police arrive, they beat him/her up so much that you can't see any part of the body because of the bleeding.
Well .... so far this has been a normal situation, but we can start to change that. We can start by raising awareness and forcing people to remove the blinders and start to see orphans and street children as normal children who need love and care and all the other basic needs that normal children receive.
We can also develop networks to support these children to attend secondary school education after they finish basic school. After secondary school at least they will be of an age that they can be supported to learn skills or attend university, and become strong contributing members of the society.
If we don't start to do something now, I shudder to think what kind of future generation we will have in our country or any other developing country with similar problems.
The statistics for orphans become higher every year mainly because of Aids and Malaria.
If you want to support secondary school education for orphans directly you can contact any local primary school and get a list of names for orphans who will be finishing basic school that year.
You can then assit them to continue the next step.
I suggest boarding school scholarships because it is safer for them to live in the enclosed community. Therefore you can consider sponsoring them with one or all of the following:
- Boarding school fee (which for Tanzania is app. 250Eur Per year)
- Books (hardly 50 Eur per year)
- Transport to boarding school from their area of residence (hardly 50 Eur go & return per year)
- Pocket money (Hardly 150 Eur per year for emergensies such as saniray pads, medicine etc).
During holiday season they can also be sponsored to stay in the school dormitories if an extra meal allowance is paid to the school. This is safer for them than the streets.
Alternatively, you can visit our website www.green-waters.org and read project CHANCE and the plan we have for supporting Orphans to continue with secondary school education.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Ecological Footprint
The Ecological footprint of the world population is devastating when we look at the bigger picture.
We continue to analyse this based on categories of energy , water, natural resources,waste, transportation, pollution.
But whichever way we look at this picture, it comes down to one thing. We are all responsible.
Ecological footprint is currently a big issue, and the root for multidimensional problems including global warming and the resulting effects such as the changes on the weather/climate patterns, loss of plants biodiversity of which is a big significance on medical science etc
There are many problems resulting from the extremely high collective eco score of the world population (I'm sure we can all think of a few or research online).
Without a major change of human habits, environmental sustainability will continue to be just another academic subject and media hyper.
In my opinion, having community platforms to promote environmental awareness and creative green ideas that can be implemented at household levels, will have a positive influence on the mindset of the next generation.
Raising awareness should be a continuous non- isolated process.
Changed consumer habits will encourage producers to be more aware of their impact on the environment.
With consumers contribution, environmental sustainability could be the main price determining factor for the future.
Creative/innovative green ideas that are easy to implement on household level, can also be a way to save or earn extra money, and even become self employed.
Reducing EF is everyone's responsibility. It is a step by step progress that has to be sustained bottom -up and top-down.
We continue to analyse this based on categories of energy , water, natural resources,waste, transportation, pollution.
But whichever way we look at this picture, it comes down to one thing. We are all responsible.
Ecological footprint is currently a big issue, and the root for multidimensional problems including global warming and the resulting effects such as the changes on the weather/climate patterns, loss of plants biodiversity of which is a big significance on medical science etc
There are many problems resulting from the extremely high collective eco score of the world population (I'm sure we can all think of a few or research online).
Without a major change of human habits, environmental sustainability will continue to be just another academic subject and media hyper.
In my opinion, having community platforms to promote environmental awareness and creative green ideas that can be implemented at household levels, will have a positive influence on the mindset of the next generation.
Raising awareness should be a continuous non- isolated process.
Changed consumer habits will encourage producers to be more aware of their impact on the environment.
With consumers contribution, environmental sustainability could be the main price determining factor for the future.
Creative/innovative green ideas that are easy to implement on household level, can also be a way to save or earn extra money, and even become self employed.
Reducing EF is everyone's responsibility. It is a step by step progress that has to be sustained bottom -up and top-down.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Worrying developments in education yet women`s advocates are strangely silent
4th May 2009
By Columnist
Among of the recent developments, the education ministry cancelled all ordinary level boarding schools, a move which can be seen as a strong setback when it comes to women emancipation.
And some people have taken advantage of this decision already by constructing brothels (madanguro) in the name of hostels…Now, you do know what goes on in hostels, don’t you? And yet the women’s emancipation advocates remain silent on these and related issues...
From the early 1990s, gender advocacy networks have been fighting for women’s inclusion in political leadership through preferential nomination. They have made some progress in this area, but women are still marginalized in some aspects. My concern today is with the education system as the only sustainable means of making women achieve emancipation.
At a post-Beijing women’s emancipation conference at the University of Dar es Salaam some time back, one contributor to the debate made the famously controversial remark: “We build walls for our wives and bridges for ourselves.”
This was one of the hottest debates I have ever participated in. The presenter was trying to make the point that women were naturally created as socially divisive creatures and men as unifiers. So the women have to be kept in confinement lest they divide the world and put it in a state of total chaos.
This meant that it would not be realistic to give them a chance of leading others at any level because they could end up plunging society into anarchy. He went to express his support for men’s domination of all decision making from the local to the national to the international levels so that women remained focused on domestic chores.
On the other hand, the ladies and some men who were supporting the motion heaped blame on men who create superficial conditions that encourage enslavement of the women. These conditions include taking advantage of the biological traits that make women as child bearers and caretakers for most of their productive life and men as the holders of the economic pillars that they then use to exploit and abuse women.
“Take for instance a female graduate in her early 20s who plans to have four children. This woman will spend not less than 10 years with at least one child below three years and the rest below 10 years. These are total dependants who demand not less than 16 hours daily from their mother.” This was a strong statement from Nyasolo, one of the motion supporters.
To concretise her point, Nyasolo continued, “The last child will spend an additional five years before he or she starts schooling. Even during primary education and up to the early teens, these children will need at least eight hours daily with their mother. This makes this woman stick to the eight-hour workday. By this time the man will be having overtime with his employer. Besides, this father will be socializing or carrying out consultancy, politics and other lobbying for income generation after the working hours.
This makes him earn merits for promotion from the employer, in addition to giving him more income from the other opportunities. The man also gains more in terms of the social influence that can help him raise his status for political gains in future.”
Speaking on men and their economic hegemony, Nyasolo put it this way: “All this time, the woman is struggling with the kids at home while the husband chases coins and gains influence on the streets.
The man also gets all the credit for the healthy children (cared for by his wife), he is also honoured by having all the children called after his name. Society has ensured that the child will, for instance, be called Magori Chacha (after the father) and not Magori Nyasolo (after the mother). Despite gathering all these honours through his wife, all the extra money he collects will still be his own!
The husband will apportion this money in ways that suit himself alone; mostly imposing stringent conditions on the wife including confining her to the home to supervise domestic chores that have no direct income generation or to handle income generation that is, again, controlled by the man.
This makes her depend on her husband all the time. In this way, the women, who raise children that become the workforce in future, find their work not valued by anybody and find themselves constantly on the losing end. Something has to be done in making women’s work of child-rearing valued,” concluded Nyasolo.
A debate? Yes. It was a debate. Sadly, it is still a debate even today. How far behind or ahead are we on the Beijing conference resolutions a decade and a half since this summit took place? Are the current intrinsic and extrinsic approaches appropriate? Have the gender networks around the country addressed Nyasolo’s call for “something to be done”? What is that “something”?
Through these gender networks, we now have the ministry responsible for gender issues, we see women getting preferential seats in the parliament and, consequently, positions in the cabinet. It was also through these networks that we observed the parliament pass a bill that makes it a crime for men to sexually harass women. Much has been done and we have to appreciate all this.
By the time these networks started and, specifically after the Beijing conference, they were very active and it was very rare to find a newspaper carrying no article on gender issues.
Today, however, things are changing. Newspapers have gone silent as if women have already lost their chains! To some young people terms and phrases like “Tanzania Gender Network Programme” “TGNP”, “Tanzania Media Women Association” TAMWA” are missing in their vocabularies.
Why this downturn? Is it because the networks are satisfied with what has happened through their struggle? If the answer is “yes” then there is something seriously wrong with these networks. The word “preferential” is discriminatory in itself. It creates in the minds of people a misconception that one is incapable and can only achieve something by being assisted by others. This is even worse because this preference is given by men! So women cannot do anything unless assisted by men!
“…something has to be done…” In the eyes of any keen person, we are still having even more challenges than before with women and we have not addressed the real matter technically.
Any sustainable programme starts with the education system because this is the one that moulds the mind of any person. Besides, since women are behind the existence of any population, we need to do something about their child-rearing role so that they have equal chance of participating in leadership.
If these networks are really working for women emancipation, there is a need for making gender studies an independent subject at all levels with specialized awards at tertiary levels. In this study, women have to learn the best practices that make someone succeed climbing the political ladder apart from having preferential nominations.
There is a need for having more boarding schools as an option for girls from primary schools after their 10th birthday. This is because on reach that age, girls get consumed with domestic works and this makes them lag behind academically. It is also at this stage that girls start maturing and become prone to sexual abuse and early pregnancies if no extra care is given.
Yet, despite this recongnition, one of the recent developments is that the education ministry cancelled all ordinary level boarding schools, a move which can be seen as a strong setback when it comes to women emancipation.
This is because some people have taken advantage of this decision already by constructing brothels (madanguro) in the name of hostels. (You do know what goes on in hostels, don’t you?) Even day scholars visit these brothels for commercial sex.
It is also widely appreciated that girls are the most affected by the shortcomings of our dala dala transportation to and from school with many of them reportedly falling for “Fataki” baits; leave alone bus conductors’ harassment. This makes them report to school and home late thus enduring the wrath of their teachers and parents respectively.
For sure, only a few girls will excel academically under these circumstances. But as the media is crying out loud every coming day and night on these matters, the gender networks remain suspiciously silent. Perhaps because they managed to make women secure preferential leadership positions and they now think that is sufficient enough.
If they were passionate enough, these advocacy networks would not only be opposing this directive by the ministry, they would also be campaigning to have more daycare centres as a way of emancipating the mother from domestic chores. The daycare centres can take care of children while the mothers are at work.
This way the ordinary mothers would be in a position to take on some extra duties to boost their status in the opportunities market. To this end, government would consider subsidising such centers as it does with primary education.
Women are men with wombs that keep all men and women that existed or still existing on the earth’s surface. The brain is the most delicate organ in the body but yet with the most powerful influence over the whole body’s physiology co-ordination. You remove the brain, you die. Had it not been the skull.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
By Columnist
Among of the recent developments, the education ministry cancelled all ordinary level boarding schools, a move which can be seen as a strong setback when it comes to women emancipation.
And some people have taken advantage of this decision already by constructing brothels (madanguro) in the name of hostels…Now, you do know what goes on in hostels, don’t you? And yet the women’s emancipation advocates remain silent on these and related issues...
From the early 1990s, gender advocacy networks have been fighting for women’s inclusion in political leadership through preferential nomination. They have made some progress in this area, but women are still marginalized in some aspects. My concern today is with the education system as the only sustainable means of making women achieve emancipation.
At a post-Beijing women’s emancipation conference at the University of Dar es Salaam some time back, one contributor to the debate made the famously controversial remark: “We build walls for our wives and bridges for ourselves.”
This was one of the hottest debates I have ever participated in. The presenter was trying to make the point that women were naturally created as socially divisive creatures and men as unifiers. So the women have to be kept in confinement lest they divide the world and put it in a state of total chaos.
This meant that it would not be realistic to give them a chance of leading others at any level because they could end up plunging society into anarchy. He went to express his support for men’s domination of all decision making from the local to the national to the international levels so that women remained focused on domestic chores.
On the other hand, the ladies and some men who were supporting the motion heaped blame on men who create superficial conditions that encourage enslavement of the women. These conditions include taking advantage of the biological traits that make women as child bearers and caretakers for most of their productive life and men as the holders of the economic pillars that they then use to exploit and abuse women.
“Take for instance a female graduate in her early 20s who plans to have four children. This woman will spend not less than 10 years with at least one child below three years and the rest below 10 years. These are total dependants who demand not less than 16 hours daily from their mother.” This was a strong statement from Nyasolo, one of the motion supporters.
To concretise her point, Nyasolo continued, “The last child will spend an additional five years before he or she starts schooling. Even during primary education and up to the early teens, these children will need at least eight hours daily with their mother. This makes this woman stick to the eight-hour workday. By this time the man will be having overtime with his employer. Besides, this father will be socializing or carrying out consultancy, politics and other lobbying for income generation after the working hours.
This makes him earn merits for promotion from the employer, in addition to giving him more income from the other opportunities. The man also gains more in terms of the social influence that can help him raise his status for political gains in future.”
Speaking on men and their economic hegemony, Nyasolo put it this way: “All this time, the woman is struggling with the kids at home while the husband chases coins and gains influence on the streets.
The man also gets all the credit for the healthy children (cared for by his wife), he is also honoured by having all the children called after his name. Society has ensured that the child will, for instance, be called Magori Chacha (after the father) and not Magori Nyasolo (after the mother). Despite gathering all these honours through his wife, all the extra money he collects will still be his own!
The husband will apportion this money in ways that suit himself alone; mostly imposing stringent conditions on the wife including confining her to the home to supervise domestic chores that have no direct income generation or to handle income generation that is, again, controlled by the man.
This makes her depend on her husband all the time. In this way, the women, who raise children that become the workforce in future, find their work not valued by anybody and find themselves constantly on the losing end. Something has to be done in making women’s work of child-rearing valued,” concluded Nyasolo.
A debate? Yes. It was a debate. Sadly, it is still a debate even today. How far behind or ahead are we on the Beijing conference resolutions a decade and a half since this summit took place? Are the current intrinsic and extrinsic approaches appropriate? Have the gender networks around the country addressed Nyasolo’s call for “something to be done”? What is that “something”?
Through these gender networks, we now have the ministry responsible for gender issues, we see women getting preferential seats in the parliament and, consequently, positions in the cabinet. It was also through these networks that we observed the parliament pass a bill that makes it a crime for men to sexually harass women. Much has been done and we have to appreciate all this.
By the time these networks started and, specifically after the Beijing conference, they were very active and it was very rare to find a newspaper carrying no article on gender issues.
Today, however, things are changing. Newspapers have gone silent as if women have already lost their chains! To some young people terms and phrases like “Tanzania Gender Network Programme” “TGNP”, “Tanzania Media Women Association” TAMWA” are missing in their vocabularies.
Why this downturn? Is it because the networks are satisfied with what has happened through their struggle? If the answer is “yes” then there is something seriously wrong with these networks. The word “preferential” is discriminatory in itself. It creates in the minds of people a misconception that one is incapable and can only achieve something by being assisted by others. This is even worse because this preference is given by men! So women cannot do anything unless assisted by men!
“…something has to be done…” In the eyes of any keen person, we are still having even more challenges than before with women and we have not addressed the real matter technically.
Any sustainable programme starts with the education system because this is the one that moulds the mind of any person. Besides, since women are behind the existence of any population, we need to do something about their child-rearing role so that they have equal chance of participating in leadership.
If these networks are really working for women emancipation, there is a need for making gender studies an independent subject at all levels with specialized awards at tertiary levels. In this study, women have to learn the best practices that make someone succeed climbing the political ladder apart from having preferential nominations.
There is a need for having more boarding schools as an option for girls from primary schools after their 10th birthday. This is because on reach that age, girls get consumed with domestic works and this makes them lag behind academically. It is also at this stage that girls start maturing and become prone to sexual abuse and early pregnancies if no extra care is given.
Yet, despite this recongnition, one of the recent developments is that the education ministry cancelled all ordinary level boarding schools, a move which can be seen as a strong setback when it comes to women emancipation.
This is because some people have taken advantage of this decision already by constructing brothels (madanguro) in the name of hostels. (You do know what goes on in hostels, don’t you?) Even day scholars visit these brothels for commercial sex.
It is also widely appreciated that girls are the most affected by the shortcomings of our dala dala transportation to and from school with many of them reportedly falling for “Fataki” baits; leave alone bus conductors’ harassment. This makes them report to school and home late thus enduring the wrath of their teachers and parents respectively.
For sure, only a few girls will excel academically under these circumstances. But as the media is crying out loud every coming day and night on these matters, the gender networks remain suspiciously silent. Perhaps because they managed to make women secure preferential leadership positions and they now think that is sufficient enough.
If they were passionate enough, these advocacy networks would not only be opposing this directive by the ministry, they would also be campaigning to have more daycare centres as a way of emancipating the mother from domestic chores. The daycare centres can take care of children while the mothers are at work.
This way the ordinary mothers would be in a position to take on some extra duties to boost their status in the opportunities market. To this end, government would consider subsidising such centers as it does with primary education.
Women are men with wombs that keep all men and women that existed or still existing on the earth’s surface. The brain is the most delicate organ in the body but yet with the most powerful influence over the whole body’s physiology co-ordination. You remove the brain, you die. Had it not been the skull.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Parents, society barriers to education for children with disabilities
By Guardian Reporter
27th April 2009
HakiElimu, a non-governmental organisation dealing with educational issues.
Parents and the society in general have been singled out as the key barrier to the education of their children with disabilities.
This is contained in a recent report titled ‘Accessibility to Education for Children with Disabilities’ carried-out by HakiElimu, a non-governmental organisation dealing with educational issues.
“In many schools, head teachers interviewed explained that they received very little support from parents and community in general regarding teaching and learning for CWD,” said HakiElimu executive director Elizabeth Missokia when launching the research findings.
She said that in the research some parents of CWD were a barrier towards their children’s educational development.
Citing examples, Missokia said one head teacher was quoted as saying: “Parents do not have any support. In fact they are a problem; they abandon their children once they are in schools.”
“The society doesn’t help anything in the education for students with disabilities. Parents don’t give any cooperation; once their children are in school they abandon them completely, and they don’t want to be contacted for anything,” another head teacher was quoted as saying.
In the research findings, some participants observed that disabled had not been given priority in some districts compared to other disadvantaged groups such as orphans.
“In our district, disability is not an issue compared to other disadvantaged groups, such as orphans. There are several organisations helping orphaned children in the district, but there is none commitment to helping students with disabilities,” another primary school head teacher said in the report.
The research was meant to explore opportunities and challenges in accessing education for CWD in Tanzania’s schools.
The research covered seven districts of Geita, Muleba, Iramba, Kinondoni, Kasulu, Newala and Ileje.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
27th April 2009
HakiElimu, a non-governmental organisation dealing with educational issues.
Parents and the society in general have been singled out as the key barrier to the education of their children with disabilities.
This is contained in a recent report titled ‘Accessibility to Education for Children with Disabilities’ carried-out by HakiElimu, a non-governmental organisation dealing with educational issues.
“In many schools, head teachers interviewed explained that they received very little support from parents and community in general regarding teaching and learning for CWD,” said HakiElimu executive director Elizabeth Missokia when launching the research findings.
She said that in the research some parents of CWD were a barrier towards their children’s educational development.
Citing examples, Missokia said one head teacher was quoted as saying: “Parents do not have any support. In fact they are a problem; they abandon their children once they are in schools.”
“The society doesn’t help anything in the education for students with disabilities. Parents don’t give any cooperation; once their children are in school they abandon them completely, and they don’t want to be contacted for anything,” another head teacher was quoted as saying.
In the research findings, some participants observed that disabled had not been given priority in some districts compared to other disadvantaged groups such as orphans.
“In our district, disability is not an issue compared to other disadvantaged groups, such as orphans. There are several organisations helping orphaned children in the district, but there is none commitment to helping students with disabilities,” another primary school head teacher said in the report.
The research was meant to explore opportunities and challenges in accessing education for CWD in Tanzania’s schools.
The research covered seven districts of Geita, Muleba, Iramba, Kinondoni, Kasulu, Newala and Ileje.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Agonising hour at the gate of Shinyanga govt hospital
By Lucas Lukumbo
12th July 2009
The entrance of Shinyanga Regional Hospital
.....If you have tears prepare to shade them when you reach the Shinyanga Regional Hospital gate during a clinic day for pregnant women. I shed mine on Friday morning.
A woman, in her 30s, struggled to step down from a bicycle after braving a whole hour of agony on a bumpy road from her village, Ndembezi, situated five kilometres away. Too weak to stand, she fell to the ground.
The cyclist Mwandu Richard said: “She asked me for help, and I just carried her on my bicycle free of charge which costs Sh1,000.”
I learnt later that cyclists in the area transport such pregnant women on bicycles because the region does not have an ambulance. People here have christened the bicycles “dala dala,” apparently for the good service they render.
More pregnant women arrived at the hospital by the same mode of transport, and like the first one, several more fell to the ground.
According to Richard, sometimes women come to the hospital on traditional cattle-pulled carts. On their way back the agony is the same. Distances covered can be as far as ten kilometres.
Near the hospital entrance, I saw a pregnant woman negotiating for the journey back home but could not raise Sh1,000 to pay the cyclist. She was desperate, saying: “There is nothing I can do. I do not have even a single coin.”
I rescued the situation. She thanked me, and off she went away to look for transport home with her newly born baby boy.
A driver who parks his vehicle near the hospital entrance Julius Justo, known by the name Molekos said, sometimes accidents occur as cyclists transport patients to hospital.
“Many of these cyclists from villages come to town because they have a patient to carry but have difficulties following traffic instructions,” the traffic drivers said acknowledging that cyclists are playing a very important role in transporting patients to health facilities.
There are times when the Shinyanga police arrest the cyclist sthey find in the municipality.
“When the police do that, they actually kill our mothers because they cannot hire taxis,” he said.
I witnessed at least 30 pregnant women entering the hospital gate in that one hour, out of whom 29 came on bicycles. Only one of them came by taxi.
A seat at the hospital gate which was being used by women and other patients to get a little rest after a long walk or ride bare nails, possibly to deter people from seating on it.
At 9am, I had to attend a meeting of all regional and district functionaries in the region. Heads of government departments from all the districts came to the meeting, organised by a Dar es Salaam based organisation, EngenderHealth, as well as others like the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA).
It was an advocacy meeting meant to instill knowledge to the participants to the meeting on this year’s World Population Day theme - Responding to the Economic Crisis: Investing in Women is a Smart Choice.
It provided space with policy makers, decision makers and community leaders in the region on the importance of investing in women.
I knew, after making some observations on how women travel to the regional hospital, I would make my contribution to the regional meeting.
At the meeting I was driven out by conscience that I should not divulge the matter to the regional authorities
There was a sign of disapproval from the chairman of the meeting, a retired brigadier general named Yohana Balele, who wanted to disapprove of my submission that Shinyanga region has no ambulance.
“Regional Medical Officer, please stand up and tell us if it is true that we have no ambulance at our regional hospital,” he ordered the Shinyanga RMO, Dr Fredrick Mlekwa.
The latter stood up and replied that it was true that the regional hospital does not have an ambulance. The meeting burst into laughter. I was the winner.
With regard to women’s health in Tanzania in general, figures on the maternal mortality have, remained virtually unchanged in the past decade; and pregnancy childbirth kills some 578 women per 100,000 live births.
With low purchasing power, there is a likelihood of a further decline in social services. This vicious cycle will exacerbate the negative impact of the current economic crisis.
The World Bank has reported that the economic crisis could lead to a cut in budgets, accommodating these issues, leading to more women and children dying, more girls dropping out of school, more women and girls being targets of violence and more women unemployed.
Progress in social and economic development goes hand-in-hand with gender equality.
There is not a smarter investment, with such high economic and social returns than investing in health and rights of adolescent girls and women.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
12th July 2009
The entrance of Shinyanga Regional Hospital
.....If you have tears prepare to shade them when you reach the Shinyanga Regional Hospital gate during a clinic day for pregnant women. I shed mine on Friday morning.
A woman, in her 30s, struggled to step down from a bicycle after braving a whole hour of agony on a bumpy road from her village, Ndembezi, situated five kilometres away. Too weak to stand, she fell to the ground.
The cyclist Mwandu Richard said: “She asked me for help, and I just carried her on my bicycle free of charge which costs Sh1,000.”
I learnt later that cyclists in the area transport such pregnant women on bicycles because the region does not have an ambulance. People here have christened the bicycles “dala dala,” apparently for the good service they render.
More pregnant women arrived at the hospital by the same mode of transport, and like the first one, several more fell to the ground.
According to Richard, sometimes women come to the hospital on traditional cattle-pulled carts. On their way back the agony is the same. Distances covered can be as far as ten kilometres.
Near the hospital entrance, I saw a pregnant woman negotiating for the journey back home but could not raise Sh1,000 to pay the cyclist. She was desperate, saying: “There is nothing I can do. I do not have even a single coin.”
I rescued the situation. She thanked me, and off she went away to look for transport home with her newly born baby boy.
A driver who parks his vehicle near the hospital entrance Julius Justo, known by the name Molekos said, sometimes accidents occur as cyclists transport patients to hospital.
“Many of these cyclists from villages come to town because they have a patient to carry but have difficulties following traffic instructions,” the traffic drivers said acknowledging that cyclists are playing a very important role in transporting patients to health facilities.
There are times when the Shinyanga police arrest the cyclist sthey find in the municipality.
“When the police do that, they actually kill our mothers because they cannot hire taxis,” he said.
I witnessed at least 30 pregnant women entering the hospital gate in that one hour, out of whom 29 came on bicycles. Only one of them came by taxi.
A seat at the hospital gate which was being used by women and other patients to get a little rest after a long walk or ride bare nails, possibly to deter people from seating on it.
At 9am, I had to attend a meeting of all regional and district functionaries in the region. Heads of government departments from all the districts came to the meeting, organised by a Dar es Salaam based organisation, EngenderHealth, as well as others like the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA).
It was an advocacy meeting meant to instill knowledge to the participants to the meeting on this year’s World Population Day theme - Responding to the Economic Crisis: Investing in Women is a Smart Choice.
It provided space with policy makers, decision makers and community leaders in the region on the importance of investing in women.
I knew, after making some observations on how women travel to the regional hospital, I would make my contribution to the regional meeting.
At the meeting I was driven out by conscience that I should not divulge the matter to the regional authorities
There was a sign of disapproval from the chairman of the meeting, a retired brigadier general named Yohana Balele, who wanted to disapprove of my submission that Shinyanga region has no ambulance.
“Regional Medical Officer, please stand up and tell us if it is true that we have no ambulance at our regional hospital,” he ordered the Shinyanga RMO, Dr Fredrick Mlekwa.
The latter stood up and replied that it was true that the regional hospital does not have an ambulance. The meeting burst into laughter. I was the winner.
With regard to women’s health in Tanzania in general, figures on the maternal mortality have, remained virtually unchanged in the past decade; and pregnancy childbirth kills some 578 women per 100,000 live births.
With low purchasing power, there is a likelihood of a further decline in social services. This vicious cycle will exacerbate the negative impact of the current economic crisis.
The World Bank has reported that the economic crisis could lead to a cut in budgets, accommodating these issues, leading to more women and children dying, more girls dropping out of school, more women and girls being targets of violence and more women unemployed.
Progress in social and economic development goes hand-in-hand with gender equality.
There is not a smarter investment, with such high economic and social returns than investing in health and rights of adolescent girls and women.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Time to prosecute albino murderers
By Editor
2nd June 2009
The sacredness of human life is a reality that is not contested by anyone. We all have the right to live, which no human being can simply take away. Granted that we all have to depart from this world at a certain point in time, yet if any of us is dispatched to another world by the cruel hand of a murderer, such an action is not only uncalled for, but deserves the most severe punishment.This is why the law enforcing organs are supposed to work tirelessly around the clock, so that killers in our midst are nabbed and brought before justice.The systematic arrest of murder suspects and subsequent trials serve to instill confidence in the populace that people are being protected.We all know that both our law enforcing organs and members of the Judiciary have a difficult time in executing their tasks in a smooth manner due to possessing inadequate resources; yet they have done a wonderful job whenever called to ensure that the country does not face a situation whereby criminals have an upper hand.With that background in mind, we wish to recall the statement made by the Director of Public Prosecutions that his office is working around the clock to ensure that a proper environment is in place so that the prosecution of suspected albino killers would take place in several regions in the near future.Earlier, the association of albinos had initiated a court action to press the government to prosecute albino murder suspects. However, the organization backed away from proceeding with the case; perhaps because its leaders were assured that the prosecutions were definitely in the offing.Days keep passing, and it seems that the prosecutions, which are eagerly awaited by members of the population-and even more so by albinos, who feel that their existence is threatened-are going to take place later than sooner, and there are those who question whether the presumed high profile prosecutions will take place at all.Reports from neighbouring Burundi, a recently war-torn country--indicate that a trial of alleged albino killers opened last week, with prosecutors saying that the killings were being fuelled by demand for body parts from our country.An allegation this only serves to further damage our image before the world, by showing that we are yet to get on top of the problem.If the Burundian officials have been able to both nab and prosecute the suspects, there is no reason why the Tanzanian authorities should drag their feet in taking similar action. As it goes, justice delayed is justice denied.The authorities might be secretly doing a wonderful job in laying the groundwork for the long awaited trials. On the other hand, they need to remember that justice not only needs to be done, but it must also be seen to be done. Short of that, people might be tempted to wonder whether there are any persons who are protecting the suspects, who must be there because the killings are really taking place. Whenever there is a murder, there is a person who commits it.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
2nd June 2009
The sacredness of human life is a reality that is not contested by anyone. We all have the right to live, which no human being can simply take away. Granted that we all have to depart from this world at a certain point in time, yet if any of us is dispatched to another world by the cruel hand of a murderer, such an action is not only uncalled for, but deserves the most severe punishment.This is why the law enforcing organs are supposed to work tirelessly around the clock, so that killers in our midst are nabbed and brought before justice.The systematic arrest of murder suspects and subsequent trials serve to instill confidence in the populace that people are being protected.We all know that both our law enforcing organs and members of the Judiciary have a difficult time in executing their tasks in a smooth manner due to possessing inadequate resources; yet they have done a wonderful job whenever called to ensure that the country does not face a situation whereby criminals have an upper hand.With that background in mind, we wish to recall the statement made by the Director of Public Prosecutions that his office is working around the clock to ensure that a proper environment is in place so that the prosecution of suspected albino killers would take place in several regions in the near future.Earlier, the association of albinos had initiated a court action to press the government to prosecute albino murder suspects. However, the organization backed away from proceeding with the case; perhaps because its leaders were assured that the prosecutions were definitely in the offing.Days keep passing, and it seems that the prosecutions, which are eagerly awaited by members of the population-and even more so by albinos, who feel that their existence is threatened-are going to take place later than sooner, and there are those who question whether the presumed high profile prosecutions will take place at all.Reports from neighbouring Burundi, a recently war-torn country--indicate that a trial of alleged albino killers opened last week, with prosecutors saying that the killings were being fuelled by demand for body parts from our country.An allegation this only serves to further damage our image before the world, by showing that we are yet to get on top of the problem.If the Burundian officials have been able to both nab and prosecute the suspects, there is no reason why the Tanzanian authorities should drag their feet in taking similar action. As it goes, justice delayed is justice denied.The authorities might be secretly doing a wonderful job in laying the groundwork for the long awaited trials. On the other hand, they need to remember that justice not only needs to be done, but it must also be seen to be done. Short of that, people might be tempted to wonder whether there are any persons who are protecting the suspects, who must be there because the killings are really taking place. Whenever there is a murder, there is a person who commits it.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Non sustainable hunting operations
Hunting Operations of the Ortello Business Company and their Impact on Maasai Rights, Wildlife, and the Environment
Few other African societies have been as romanticized and popularized by Europeans and Americans, while simultaneously neglected and underdeveloped, as the Maasai. Despite their image as ‘free and noble warriors,’ the Maasai have seen their grazing lands continuously reduced by colonial appropriation, the creation of national game parks, the steady incursions of agriculturalists, and most recently by the creation of private titles to individual ranches which are dividing the remaining land.
Prof. Elliot Fratkin, Ariaal Pastoralists of Kenya
In our Voices
This report explores the negative impacts on Maasai communities, wildlife, and their shared habitat of the Ortello Business Company, a United Arab Emirates hunting company operating in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area in northern Tanzania. A compilation of information gathered by the Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition (MERC), the report highlights environmental and human rights concerns, as well as the desperation of the Maasai people of Loliondo and adjacent areas in their efforts to be heard. The report calls for urgent action by the Tanzanian government and the international community to avert the looming ecological crisis in Loliondo. It also calls for a more in-depth, scientific examination of the important issues presented.
The experiences recounted herein are of those who have been most acutely affected–Maasai community members whose voices are so often neither heard nor heeded, like so many other indigenous peoples worldwide.
www.maasaierc.org
Farm tool prices too high, yes, so?
By Editor
9th July 2009
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Monday honoured the ongoing 33rd edition of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair at Mwalimu Nyerere grounds with a brief but memorable tour.An acknowledged advocate of the ‘Green Revolution’ and a firm believer in the power of agriculture to redeem the world from the shame of grinding poverty, the PM found time for an audience with several manufacturers of agricultural implements.Without mincing his words, he declared that the disadvantages of selling essential items like tractors and other farm tools at prices well beyond the reach of most Tanzanian farmers far outweighed whatever advantages there may be.The PM wondered aloud on noticing that the rise in the number of people or institutions engaged in the production of agricultural implements had not triggered any appreciable drop in the prices of the respective items.That he took time to dig deep down to the roots of the problems he was targeting may appear little more than part of his official routine. However, looked at more closely, it reflects the lessons he has learnt after decades of appreciation of the pivotal role agriculture can play in a nation’s development.Resisting temptations to make stereotyped political pronouncements seldom followed up with concrete action, Pinda stared the entrepreneurs in the face and declared: “Be realistic and charge farmers reduced prices for farm implements so that they can increase production and hence boost household incomes.”He well knew that it did not make much political or economic sense talking about the need to boost things like GNP and GDP without first making people understand the importance of uplifting the standard of living of the individual citizen and of the individual household.We see the PM phrasing and interpreting only a little differently the ruling CCM’s 2005 winning election slogan of ‘A Better Life for Every Tanzanian’.But we also see his remarks take a leaf from the wisdom of Father of the Nation Mwalimu Nyerere who, as long ago as August 21, 1964, made most apt comments about Tanzania’s development strategy.Part of that wisdom: “Only careful thought about our own problems and the relentless application of scientific and objective thinking can enable us to achieve the betterment of our lives to which we are committed. And there is no turning back. By our own actions we have started to push the bus up the mountainside which separates us from the land of plenty.”But he warned: “The brute force of our people’s strength alone will not be sufficient to reach the top. The strength has to be combined with the scientific use of every atom of skill in steering, in coaxing the engine, in changing gear and in applying the brakes and the accelerator at the right moment.”We see Pinda determined not to allow the effort to relax, thus letting the bus roll back and crush the driver and all those others around. Will he make it? Will the government help his dreams come true? Will wananchi rally behind the noble effort? Only time will tell; but we wish the effort resounding success.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
9th July 2009
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Monday honoured the ongoing 33rd edition of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair at Mwalimu Nyerere grounds with a brief but memorable tour.An acknowledged advocate of the ‘Green Revolution’ and a firm believer in the power of agriculture to redeem the world from the shame of grinding poverty, the PM found time for an audience with several manufacturers of agricultural implements.Without mincing his words, he declared that the disadvantages of selling essential items like tractors and other farm tools at prices well beyond the reach of most Tanzanian farmers far outweighed whatever advantages there may be.The PM wondered aloud on noticing that the rise in the number of people or institutions engaged in the production of agricultural implements had not triggered any appreciable drop in the prices of the respective items.That he took time to dig deep down to the roots of the problems he was targeting may appear little more than part of his official routine. However, looked at more closely, it reflects the lessons he has learnt after decades of appreciation of the pivotal role agriculture can play in a nation’s development.Resisting temptations to make stereotyped political pronouncements seldom followed up with concrete action, Pinda stared the entrepreneurs in the face and declared: “Be realistic and charge farmers reduced prices for farm implements so that they can increase production and hence boost household incomes.”He well knew that it did not make much political or economic sense talking about the need to boost things like GNP and GDP without first making people understand the importance of uplifting the standard of living of the individual citizen and of the individual household.We see the PM phrasing and interpreting only a little differently the ruling CCM’s 2005 winning election slogan of ‘A Better Life for Every Tanzanian’.But we also see his remarks take a leaf from the wisdom of Father of the Nation Mwalimu Nyerere who, as long ago as August 21, 1964, made most apt comments about Tanzania’s development strategy.Part of that wisdom: “Only careful thought about our own problems and the relentless application of scientific and objective thinking can enable us to achieve the betterment of our lives to which we are committed. And there is no turning back. By our own actions we have started to push the bus up the mountainside which separates us from the land of plenty.”But he warned: “The brute force of our people’s strength alone will not be sufficient to reach the top. The strength has to be combined with the scientific use of every atom of skill in steering, in coaxing the engine, in changing gear and in applying the brakes and the accelerator at the right moment.”We see Pinda determined not to allow the effort to relax, thus letting the bus roll back and crush the driver and all those others around. Will he make it? Will the government help his dreams come true? Will wananchi rally behind the noble effort? Only time will tell; but we wish the effort resounding success.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Sunday, July 5, 2009
DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Development in Africa has always been a hot topic. But when we talk of development in Africa, all the planning is happening from top - down.
Approximately 80% of developing countries depend on agriculture as the backbone of their economy. Families depend on agriculture as a means to support their basic needs. Many think beyond the basic needs because of a number of reasons.
It could be that they don’t have access to information about what is going on outside their village.
It could be that they don’t think what is happening in the next country or as far as EU is any of their business.
It could be that they work hard to preserve their cultures and keep foreign influences of foreign concepts such as child rights, anti female genital mutilation campaigners out.
It could also be just ignorance or lack of time to invest in new knowledge.
It could be that there is no cooperation or trust between the ruling government institutions and the rural areas.
Which brings me to my point. I honestly believe, without more active involvement of all local people, as donors, governments or NGO’s we are simply pouring water in a basket.
By active involvement, I don't mean ''doing what they are supposed to do'' to reach a goal that is set by their government or external donors. Active involvement starts by communicating as equals, exchanging ideas, discussing fair ways of cooperation, reaching honourable agreements.
It is very interesting talking with the elders of villages, they will tell you how good life used to be 40 -50 years ago. Doesn't it make you wonder how that fits with our definition of development?
Generally people will be satisfied with basic needs ; food, water, clothes, shelter, affordable health care, education, information.
Therefore, development in Africa has first got to address these basic needs and reach a sustainable solution.
Sustainability of basic needs includes empowering the local people to get the best from their surrounding environment . Depending on location and availability of resources, the people can be empowered to produce various primary and secondary products for consumption and for commerce.
Sustainability also requires an established transportation system for commercial products from one region to the next. After sustainability of basic needs, it is easier to move to the next step.
Currently most African countries are suffering from effects of poverty, one of them being corruption.
I think it is really great that we are trying our best to fight corruption from top-down, but as long as we have a high population of hungry people corruption will always have room to thrive.
Therefore, sustainability of basic needs, has to be a number one priority.
When considering development of rural areas in Africa. These are questions we should ask ourselves:
Food: Is there enough supply of food for every individual within the local area? If a certain type of food is lacking, is there a way to get that from the next village and NOT Europe or Asia?
Water: Is there a good management system of water? Do the people have easy access to clean water for domestic use such as drinking, washing and for their animals? do they have access to water for irrigation of their crops?
Clothes: Can the people afford clothes to wear and maintain their dignity as well as protect themselves from the weather effects?
Shelter: Does everyone have a roof over their head? Under this roof, is it safe for all family members? Do they have enough room to maintain a certain level of privacy? Is there a good sanitation system within or attached to the shelter?
Affordable health care: Example, considering that within warm tropical climate with breeding areas for the Anopheles mosquitoes, Malaria is a number one enemy that can be prevented but can’t be avoided eternally. Also, it is extremely important to have health facilities such as clinics for child birthing and care for mothers. Is there affordable health care within at least an hour walking distance?
Education/information: Considering the importance of education and information. Are there schools available for young people as well as adult education? Because Adult education is important as a foundation of children education.
Access to information is important as well. While these are things we take for granted, in most rural areas there is no electricity therefore no internet or TV and rarely any newspapers reach these areas. Nevertheless, there has to be ways for people to get useful information that will guide them and help them integrate with the ‘’outside’’ world.
The only point I’m trying to make is that rural African communities have to be empowered to be able to utilise existing local resources to the fullest. People who are now viewed as victims or marginalised for one reason or another, have to be ‘enabled’ to take the reins of their destiny.
In this case, capacity building projects that target the literal or practical needs of the people are important.
Approximately 80% of developing countries depend on agriculture as the backbone of their economy. Families depend on agriculture as a means to support their basic needs. Many think beyond the basic needs because of a number of reasons.
It could be that they don’t have access to information about what is going on outside their village.
It could be that they don’t think what is happening in the next country or as far as EU is any of their business.
It could be that they work hard to preserve their cultures and keep foreign influences of foreign concepts such as child rights, anti female genital mutilation campaigners out.
It could also be just ignorance or lack of time to invest in new knowledge.
It could be that there is no cooperation or trust between the ruling government institutions and the rural areas.
Which brings me to my point. I honestly believe, without more active involvement of all local people, as donors, governments or NGO’s we are simply pouring water in a basket.
By active involvement, I don't mean ''doing what they are supposed to do'' to reach a goal that is set by their government or external donors. Active involvement starts by communicating as equals, exchanging ideas, discussing fair ways of cooperation, reaching honourable agreements.
It is very interesting talking with the elders of villages, they will tell you how good life used to be 40 -50 years ago. Doesn't it make you wonder how that fits with our definition of development?
Generally people will be satisfied with basic needs ; food, water, clothes, shelter, affordable health care, education, information.
Therefore, development in Africa has first got to address these basic needs and reach a sustainable solution.
Sustainability of basic needs includes empowering the local people to get the best from their surrounding environment . Depending on location and availability of resources, the people can be empowered to produce various primary and secondary products for consumption and for commerce.
Sustainability also requires an established transportation system for commercial products from one region to the next. After sustainability of basic needs, it is easier to move to the next step.
Currently most African countries are suffering from effects of poverty, one of them being corruption.
I think it is really great that we are trying our best to fight corruption from top-down, but as long as we have a high population of hungry people corruption will always have room to thrive.
Therefore, sustainability of basic needs, has to be a number one priority.
When considering development of rural areas in Africa. These are questions we should ask ourselves:
Food: Is there enough supply of food for every individual within the local area? If a certain type of food is lacking, is there a way to get that from the next village and NOT Europe or Asia?
Water: Is there a good management system of water? Do the people have easy access to clean water for domestic use such as drinking, washing and for their animals? do they have access to water for irrigation of their crops?
Clothes: Can the people afford clothes to wear and maintain their dignity as well as protect themselves from the weather effects?
Shelter: Does everyone have a roof over their head? Under this roof, is it safe for all family members? Do they have enough room to maintain a certain level of privacy? Is there a good sanitation system within or attached to the shelter?
Affordable health care: Example, considering that within warm tropical climate with breeding areas for the Anopheles mosquitoes, Malaria is a number one enemy that can be prevented but can’t be avoided eternally. Also, it is extremely important to have health facilities such as clinics for child birthing and care for mothers. Is there affordable health care within at least an hour walking distance?
Education/information: Considering the importance of education and information. Are there schools available for young people as well as adult education? Because Adult education is important as a foundation of children education.
Access to information is important as well. While these are things we take for granted, in most rural areas there is no electricity therefore no internet or TV and rarely any newspapers reach these areas. Nevertheless, there has to be ways for people to get useful information that will guide them and help them integrate with the ‘’outside’’ world.
The only point I’m trying to make is that rural African communities have to be empowered to be able to utilise existing local resources to the fullest. People who are now viewed as victims or marginalised for one reason or another, have to be ‘enabled’ to take the reins of their destiny.
In this case, capacity building projects that target the literal or practical needs of the people are important.
Friday, July 3, 2009
MANAGING THOUGHT PATTERNS
Part of developing the inner self, is to develop a thought pattern.
Recognising how certain thoughts, create certain emotions and/or feelings.
Tracing the root of the feelings and/or emotions and the personal reactions because of those feelings/emotions.
Sometimes, it is possible to trace the root from as long ago as childhoold, but sometimes the thoughts have been causing emotions/feelings for such a long time that they have become part of a habit.
We may not even realise that our thoughts affect our emotions/feelings, especially if we have been doing things the same way, within the same environment for a long time. Everything happens automatic.
For instance, take a white paper and put a dot on it. If you ask 10 people what they see on the paper, 9 out of 10 will say they see a dot. Only 1 out of 10, might see the white paper.
It is the same with our relationships.
Changing the pattern of thoughts, helps a person to see things a different way. The feelings, emotions and reactions which were linked to the old thought patters are altered as well.
Recognising how certain thoughts, create certain emotions and/or feelings.
Tracing the root of the feelings and/or emotions and the personal reactions because of those feelings/emotions.
Sometimes, it is possible to trace the root from as long ago as childhoold, but sometimes the thoughts have been causing emotions/feelings for such a long time that they have become part of a habit.
We may not even realise that our thoughts affect our emotions/feelings, especially if we have been doing things the same way, within the same environment for a long time. Everything happens automatic.
For instance, take a white paper and put a dot on it. If you ask 10 people what they see on the paper, 9 out of 10 will say they see a dot. Only 1 out of 10, might see the white paper.
It is the same with our relationships.
Changing the pattern of thoughts, helps a person to see things a different way. The feelings, emotions and reactions which were linked to the old thought patters are altered as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
