Added: May 08, 2008 8:31 am
Malaria is the single most important cause of morbidity and mortality in Tanzania in both adults and children under five years of age. A full 93 percent of the population is considered at risk and approximately ninety five percent of cases are caused by the most virulent of the plasmodiums Plasmodium falciparum. In year 2000, 39 percent of all consultations in children under five were associated with malaria. Overall, 100,000 -125,000 deaths occur per year in Tanzania, of which 65 80 percent is in children under five years of age. The burden on the population and health services is high.
The United States President s Malaria Initiative (PMI) is providing substantial resources to the Government of Tanzania through its ministries of health in mainland Tanzania and the Zanzibar islands. PMI seeks to dramatically reduce malaria as a major killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in targeted countries in Africa. The initiative estimates that 85 percent coverage of vulnerable or high risk groups with preventive and curative actions will be necessary to achieve the goal. The main actions the initiative will support are: promotion of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), prompt and effective case management of malaria and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in pregnancy. Other interventions may be added as they become proven and available.
Tanzania has the largest PMI portfolio in the world. PMI s FY 2006 and FY 2007 support to Tanzania was USD $11.5 million and $31 million respectively. The third year total has been approved for $34 million. It currently consists of 24 management units. The United Republic of Tanzania consists of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, each with its own Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH), and distinct malaria control program, so the Tanzania PMI essentially supports two country programs. PMI in Tanzania continues to scale up programs in support of the NMCP and ZMCP. The major challenges and future directions for PMI in 2008 can be found at the PMI website: www.pmi.gov.
The Tanzania PMI team is led by the USAID/Tanzania Mission Director and consists of the Team Leader of the USAID Health and Population Office (HPO), a USAID Technical Advisor and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Advisor, and a Program Management Specialist. Two other HPO officers support the PMI program.
The current USAID Technical Advisor will be leaving Tanzania in July 2008.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
The PMI USAID Technical Advisor, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor and Programme Management Specialist, shall provide leadership, guidance and overall direction on the development and execution of the PMI in Tanzania. The PMI USAID Technical Advisor, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor, shall provide managerial and technical support to Tanzania s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Zanzibar Malaria Control Program (ZMCP) Program Managers and staff and help to build capacity within the NMCP and ZMCP.
