In Alailelai ward, there is only one dispensary offering basic medical services. From 2013-2106 it was a private dispensary, but in 2016 it began being run by the government. There is one nurse and in March 2017, a doctor began working there. People can walk up to 12km to reach the dispensary.
For medical services, people can pay 6,000 – 8,500 TZS (~$4 USD) per visit. Many people they cannot afford this.
To help people receive services, AMSO has a project to give poor families community health cards through the government Community Health Fund (CHF) program.
Each CHF card is 15,000 TZS (~$7.50 USD) and each family they can register 6 people. For one year, they can visit any government health facility for treatment and free medicine.
This project has already brought many people hope in the villages because they cannot afford it on their own. It is helping there to be no discrimination in the community to access health between those who can afford and those who cannot.
- In 2016, AMSO distributed 150 CHF cards to poor families.
- The value of these cards amounted to 2,250,000 TZS, or just more than $1,000 USD.
- 900 people have been given access to health services.
- In 2017, AMSO will sponsor 150 more families.
Quote from village leaders: “We are very happy because AMSO continues to help people in the community. It has helped the local leaders to be able to focus on other project. Thank you AMSO for paying for CHF because if there are more people being registered, the government will support us to improve the facility from only a dispensary to a hospital, bringing the people better services.”
AMSO Tanzania 