Strengthening health systems to improve HIV and AIDS service delivery: The CDC Tanzania approach

Background: Under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tanzania has been tasked with building human and institutional capacity across the Tanzanian health system in order to improve HIV and AIDS service delivery. Tanzania, like most developing countries, faces an acute shortage of health workforce and reduced system capacity to address the health care needs of its citizens.

Methods: CDC Tanzania has prioritized human and institutional capacity building among its HSS activities. We partner with over 74 local and international organizations to address the issue of Human Resources for Health (HRH) crisis. While the recommended WHO guidelines state that 23 health care workers are required for 10000 people, the average in Tanzania is 7.4. In order to address this HRH crisis, CDC Tanzania implements a recruitment and retention strategy – with the help of implementation partners – that provides student scholarships, faculty mentoring, development of learning hubs, and strengthening of professional organizations among other activities. In addition to HRH, CDC Tanzania works to improve institutional capacity by supporting the Ministry of health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in Tanzania with developing and rolling out training programs, policies for recruitment and retention, and providing support towards the Human Resources for Health Information Systems (HRHIS). CDC Tanzania is working to build institutional leadership capacity across various health care professional organizations in Tanzania.

Discussion: HSS is a comprehensive three pronged approach where capacity is built across human, institutional, and systems levels. CDC Tanzania is working to improve the health of Tanzanians by improving health serviced delivery and HSS plays a vital role in strengthening service delivery mechanisms. This presentation describes the various HSS efforts of CDC Tanzania and adds to the other three panel presentations that discuss individual, environmental, and institutional strengthening efforts.