The PMI | TMSA project team went to Dodoma – Tanzania’s administrative capital – and visited Katavi region on September 6-7; and 8-9, 2022 to officially introduce the project to the national and regional authorities respectively.

The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has funded a five-year malaria program set to begin in August 2022 until August 2027, called Tanzania Malaria Surveillance Activity (TMSA), which will be implemented in Katavi region by Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) and other partners.

As the guest of honor, the RAS officially received the PMI | TMSA Activity program on Sept 9, 2022, in an event held at Katavi New Resort which was attended by the RMO, District Executive Directors (DEDs) from Katavi districts, District Medical Officers (DMOs), regional and district malaria focal persons and representatives from Council Health Management Teams at the district and regional level RCHMTs and CHMTs.

In his remarks, the RAS instructed the RMO and the health management teams from the regional and district level to give the PMI | TMSA team the needed support to ensure the project activities are well executed. RAS concluded his remarks with the motto “Ziro Malaria inaanza na mimi nachukua hatua kuitokomeza” (“Zero Malaria starts with me; I take a step towards elimination”).

Before the RAS speech, the RMO explained the malaria situation in Katavi, and according to him, the malaria transmission in Katavi is 7% close to the national situation which is 7.1%. He added by thanking the government, IHI and PMI for selecting Katavi to implement the PMI | TMSA program and placing the hope that the program is going to reduce malaria transmission in the region.

According to the PMI |TMSA Chief of Party, Dr. Bishanga, the PMI|TMSA program will focus on five main areas whereby only four would be implemented in Katavi. These four areas are: i) Malaria case management and improving malaria services related to pregnancy ii) Improved ability of individuals to practice positive healthy behaviors iii) To enable working environments such as data systems improvement, surveillance activities and mentorships, training and support iv) Malaria program evaluation and/or operations research. The fifth focus area will be implemented at the national level which is Drug efficacy monitoring.

Before the PMI | TMSA introductory event, the project team did a courtesy visit to the Regional Medical Officer (RMO) for Katavi, Dr. Omari Sukari on Sept 8, 2022, and introduced themselves as well as explained the purpose of the Activity program in brief to the RMO.

The courtesy visit was organized by the regional malaria focal person for Katavi Dr. Ramadhani Karume, assisted by Kanuth Dimoso, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for the PMI Impact Malaria project implemented in Katavi from October 2020 to Sept 2022 – a project which is now phasing out to let TMSA continue with the fight against malaria.   

The PMI | TMSA team was led by the Chief of Party, Dr. Dunstan Bishanga, and his deputy Dr. Mwaka Kakolwa while the RMO’s office was represented by the RMO Dr. Omari Sukari and Malaria focal person for Katavi Dr. Ramadhani Karume.

About PMI | TMSA
The President’s Malaria Initiative | Tanzania Malaria Surveillance Activity (PMI | TMSA) is a five-year program (August 2022 – August 2027) implemented by Ifakara Health Institute, which supports the Government of Tanzania (GOT) in reducing the malaria burden and in moving toward the long-term goal of malaria elimination. The Activity is made possible by the support of the American people through the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

>> More about PMI | TMSA.