Summary

Since Independence, the Government of Tanzania has been committed to fighting poverty, ignorance and diseases. The vision of the Health Sector in Tanzania is to have communities with improved health status and well-being that contribute effectively in the development of individuals, their communities and the nation. In order to achieve this, the country has striven to build a health system that meets the need of all Tanzanians, with a focus on those most at risk in order to increase life expectancy and reduce mortality, disease and disability. Following the Arusha Declaration of 1967, Tanzania embarked on establishment of frontline health facilities in urban and rural settings supported by a network of village health workers to provide community-based health services. This approach was adopted by the WHO in the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration of Primary Health based on Tanzania’s experience and success in reaching most of its population with basic health services in a low-resource environment. In line with the more recent Astana Declaration of 2018, Tanzania has committed to prioritize disease prevention and health promotion in order to meet all people’s health needs across the life course through provision of comprehensive preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care services at all levels....