TATU Project

1. A project of research,
training and action
in health
HEALTH IN
MSITU WA TEMBO
www.tatuproject.org

2. TATU project is a multidisciplinary project
focused in promoting a sustainable develo-
pment of the rural community of Msitu wa
Tembo, in northern Tanzania.
Through different projects we approach dis-
tinct targets within the community. We try
to comprehend their way of life through a
continuous social research, and from there
build each project with the targeted group.
We feel a strong commitment to involve the
community members from the project de-
signing stage, as well as to share the res-
ponsibility of the implementation and suc-
cess of the enterprise. Our first approach
is asking, studying and sharing experiences
with the community.
Through active collaboration of its mem-
bers, we identify the main challenges and
build solutions together. We make sure
to convey how they will benefit personally
from the project, and how this benefit will
reach their peers.
Focusing the project in a single region since
March 2013 we have managed to establish
solid relationships with the community, with
many trusting us to help them with their
projects. We always look forward to stimu-
lating leadership within the individuals able
to bring positive changes around them.
This approach strongly promotes the inte-
gration of the projects in the local structu-
res, which added to the good acceptance
they have guarantees the sustainability and
continuity of our work.
TATU
PROJECT

3. Msitu Wa Tembo is a rural community in
the Simanjiro district, Northern Tanzania.
Despite its proximity to larger cities like
Moshi or Arusha, it is a rural, isolated and
poor territory, with approximately 7000
inhabitants.
The main economic and social activities
in Msitu involve cattle, agriculture and
small businesses. Access to drinking wa-
ter is scarce, and 95% of the community
depends of agriculture for nourishment
and livelihood, though only 20% is lan-
downer (TATU Project Baseline Survey,
2014). There is minimal infrastructure
dedicated to health and education servi-
ces, but their quality and accessibility are
questionable.
MSITU WA TEMBO
(AFYA EN SWAHILI)
We are a group of students of medicine
and biology at the Universidad Autonoma
de Madrid. We share an enthusiasm for in-
ternational cooperation and the eagerness
to learn more about it, with the intention to
devote part of our professional future to it.
We start working with Project TATU resu-
ming the work carried out by other volun-
teers before us, with a series of working
initiatives destined to improve the health
conditions of Msitu wa Tembo.
TATU conducted during the summer of 2014
a socioeconomic baseline survey in over
250 homes in Msitu wa Tembo. That study
derives in this approximation to the major
health problems in the community:
HEALTH
PROJECT

4. Healthcare in Msitu is based on a local dis-
pensary with very limited services and equi-
pment. The dispensary must serve a geo-
graphically dispersed community of 7000
people, which added to the cost of medical
care poses serious accessibility problems.
This results in a low public confidence in
healthcare resources, which together with
the lack of knowledge of the community in
matters of health prevention and self-care
results in a low life expectancy (61 years),
poor rates of pregnancy monitoring, high
prevalence of infectious diseases, chronifi-
cation of poorly treated injuries and low qua-
lity of life in the elderly due to the high pre-
valence of undiagnosed chronic conditions.
In 2014 a Spanish pediatrician, Luis San-
tos, spent two weeks in the field analyzing
the main issues with healthcare in Msitu
Wa Tembo, writing a report and giving out
his opinion on the possible actions to im-
plement. We highlight the following quote
from his report:
“Healthcare is expensive, in Tanzania and
everywhere else. Looking forward to repla-
cing or implementing the assistance to be
provided by the State is an almost impos-
sible task for an organization like TATU. I
would recommend carrying out a thorough
analysis of all official programs establi-
shed, and educating the population to use
and demand them.”
The health project focuses on addressing
community problems related to the field of
health. Based on the information gathered
so far, we believe that the actions of grea-
test impact consist of raising community
awareness about the importance of pre-
ventive health strategies and the impact of
chronic untreated disease, as well as en-
hancing the function of existing services
such as the dispensary.

5. Actions this summer will be aimed at fulfi-
lling the objectives above mentioned, focu-
sing on the following projects:
In collaboration with Pamoja Tunaweza
(NGO with Tanzanian and Canadian health-
care professionals) we will organize two me-
dical caravans in which basic healthcare and
preventive counseling will be offered free of
charge. In the course of the 2014 caravans
we managed to provide care to more than
350 patients.
Caravans increase public trust in doctors
and local health structures, encouraging
people to count on them in case of necessity.
They also provide valuable epidemiological
data on diseases of high prevalence such as
hypertension, diabetes, malaria, amebiasis,
or pneumonia.
PROGRAM
FOR JUNE -
AUGUST 2015
MEDICAL CARAVAN:
HOME BASED CARE (HBC) -
TRAINING AND OUTREACHES
TATU Project has identified in Msitu Wa
Tembo a sum of 76 patients with mobility
problems who do not have the possibility
of being treated at the dispensary. For the
most part, they are elderly or chronically
ill patients with treatable conditions that
greatly affect their quality of life, such as
HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, hyper-
tension, asthma or cancer.
Our aim is to train a group in charge of a ho-
me-based care service intended for patients
with limited mobility, as well as to identify
new patients potentially dependent of this
service attending to preset selection crite-
ria. The program will include training in the
subject of healthcare and practical aspects
of home-based care, everything in collabo-
ration with the NGOs Pamoja Tunaweza and
FT Kilimanjaro.
We have also scheduled two outreaches
with healthcare professionals to provide
all-round healthcare, establishing diagno-
sis and prescribing treatments. The respon-
sibility for the continuous care will depend
on the HBC team, whose working potential
will increase in the medium term with the
acquisition of bicycles.

6. The research work will consist of random
medical assessment and carrying out of
surveys to complete the data collected du-
ring previous years on the prevalence of
chronic conditions in the community. This
kind of information is not collected by the
Tanzanian government, and is an essential
step in identifying the major health challen-
ges and planning solutions.
The work will be carried out in groups
equipped with questionnaires, blood glu-
cose meters and automatic blood pressu-
re monitors. Problems of high prevalence
and impact thus far include hypertension,
diabetes, alcoholism and smoking. We will
also continue to assess the perception of
health, prevention knowledge, satisfaction
with access to health services and initiati-
ves to improve their function.
RESEARCH FOLLOW-UP
Guided by the concept of promoting sustai-
nable plans and backing up the leadership
of local workers, our plans are based on
long-term goals. The continuity of ongoing
projects and the information collected de-
pend on a health project coordinator whose
main functions will consist of the supervi-
sion of active projects, promotion of new
ones and communication with the dispen-
sary and other institutions. He will also be
responsible for the coordination of future
volunteers.

7. Even though students travelling this summer or working in
Spain do so voluntarily, the project requires the cooperation
of health professionals and social workers who earn a salary,
as well as a substantial sum for the purchase of drugs and
materials. We therefore establish the latter budget.
BUDGET

8. WE HUMBLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR
THIS INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND YOUR
WILL TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF
THE PEOPLE OF TANZANIA.