TANZANIA HEALTH SUMMIT
Unleash Your Potential
THS initiative designed to prepare youth for practical learning on Leadership, Communication Skills, and Career Path Development.
1. A Nurse’s Story
On Dec 17, 2022, Wilson Fungameza’s story about an improvised device he introduced at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) first saw the light of day in media and on internet in a documentary featuring Healthcare Awards THS 2022. He had been named Nurse of the Year (2022) and he scooped the award after a nomination process, followed by rigorous selection of candidates and final voting during Tanzania Health Summit (THS). But he wasn’t alone. Names of winners in other categories include: Doctor Of The Year, DMO Of The Year as well as Community Health Worker Of The Year. They were recognised through these prestigious awards for their untiring efforts and service in the country’s health system.
Since the event and subsequent airing of the documentary, the name of Fungameza, one of the winners, has caught global attention. He is a nurse at MNH-Mloganzila and author of the book: “Nursing Diagnosis for Academic and Clinical Practice.” He is now going places. Little did he know that his bumble initiatives would further be recognised and highly publicised, especially after showcasing his Improvised Bubble CPAP Device which he invented and introduced at his workplace, leading him up to winning the Nurse of the Year Award in 2022
Currently, he is eyeing $250,000 in Global Award Finals after he made it to the top 10 finalists selected from over 52,000 nurses across 202 countries for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2023. The nurses are being recognised for their dedication and calling to the profession. As a nurse, Fungameza was always heartbroken whenever he witnessed deaths of new-borns attributed to lack of respiratory support machines at MNH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Normal oxygen therapy was being given as an alternative. There was neither a CPAP machine nor a ventilator machine. After his initiatives, neonatal death has been reduced from respiratory problems from 14.1% to 5.9%.
2. Healthcare Innovators’ Story
Dr Atish Shah’s name rose to prominence two years ago after he became one of the winners of the prestigious CHIA Healthcare Innovation Awards organised by Tanzania Health Summit(THS), an award program that recognizes and provides early funding to young people with the most innovative and impactful healthcare solutions, products and services developed in Tanzania—and by Tanzanians. Since then, Dr. Shah’s work has attracted stakeholders from far and wide.
His innovation the Mkono-1, is a 3D-printed functional prosthetic hand—the battery-powered prosthetics—not being developed elsewhere in the region. By then, he was a Biomedical Engineering Masters Candidate. On top of taking his business idea further, on 14th July, 2022, he went on to receive the Mkapa Legacy Innovation Award organised jointly with THS. The ceremony to honour the work of former President Benjamin Mkapa was graced by President Samia Suluhu in Zanzibar.
However, THS has provided a springboard to greater recognition and advancement for many projects, Dr Shah’s project being one among many. There is yet another success story of PharmLinks, a digital wholesale for pharmacies in Tanzania.
Castory Munish, the CEO of PharmLinks says, “In a very special way in 2020, we participated in the award [during THS2020] and won. Through the [funding we received], we have been able to do the following: First, we have been able to grow the amount of funding we received by three times, we have been able to pilot our product by taking it in the market, we learnt a lot of lessons and this enabled us to develop a new business model where we developed customised solutions. We have also grown our team.”
The list of success stories has continued to grow. You can talk of SarataniAI or the most recent one: AfyaDrive—all inspired by Tanzania’s largest healthcare summit which marks its 10th Anniversary this year in October (3-5) at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam. If you want to be part of this growing story in 2023, prepare to participate in the awards which will open in May 2023 and you will be able to join via the link: https://ths.or.tz/chia/
3. Community Health Workers’ Story
In a unique way, the summit has helped to raise the voices of Community Health Workers (CHWs). For too long, meetings and discussions about CHWs, were taking place in their absence in the rooms. But things have changed for the better after THS, in collaboration with AMREF Health Africa and the Ministry of Health, launched the first ever Community Health Workers Symposium in 2022, which raised their collective voice and visibility. The aim was also to empower CHWs, many of them female, with the tools, knowledge, skills and opportunities as well as advocate their work.
By listening to the challenges that they face and articulation of what they need, we are now better informed to support them. THS believes it is critical to make the concerns of the CHWs high priority on policy agendas – at every level. This will in turn drive change and therefore adequately support the health of their surrounding communities.
Make Your Story in 2023
This year THS marks 10 years of the summit. Be part of this milestone and showcase your work at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam from 3rd to 5th October 2023. This year’s theme is: Strengthening Health Systems for UHC, focusing on Primary Health Care.
You could be a researcher, innovator, clinician, academician, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, sociologist or agricultural expert. You can add to your career achievements, enhance your business interactions in healthcare or build your client’s base through THS. Here is the list of options for you:
a) Abstract Submission: Remember that THS aims to increase your visibility in various ways, including having your research or project published in the BMC Journal of Proceedings on top of giving you a chance to present it to a huge audience during the event. Begin crafting your abstract today or if you have one ready, submit via https://ths.or.tz/abstract/ . What you need to submit is work that introduces new ideas and concepts, research and its implementation and its usefulness to the society. THS can also assist you if you need guidance on how to prepare a good abstract. All you need to do is contact the support team via Email: abstract@ths.or.tz. The deadline for abstract submission is July 15, 2023.
b) The Largest Medical Expo in 2023: The THS Medical and Health EXPO is a national and international B2B and consumer medical trade fair that goes in parallel to the iconic meeting. More than 100 exhibitors are expected to present, meet new customers, patients, distributors, selling products and services to more than 5,000 visitors. It will take place on 3-5 October, 2023 Tuesday to Thursday at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre – Shaaban Robert St, Dar es Salaam. You can reserve for BOOKING NOW or call via: Reserve your booking by calling number +255 687 0153 47 or through the link: https://ths.or.tz/registration-form/
c) Attend the Summit: The 10th Tanzania Health Summit comes with a lot of opportunities for you as individual or your organization. You have more than a reason to attend the summit, through which you can benefit from:
- Research Presentations: Over 100 research and program presentations will be made in the context of the theme: Strengthening Health Systems for UHC, focusing on Primary Health Care.
- Diverse parallel forums: Get access to health forums and symposiums from various organizations. A number of local and international institutions have already confirmed to lead healthcare forums that will showcase what they do in Tanzania’s healthcare system.
- Exciting Awards: This usually includes 1,000s of nominations of healthcare workers healthcare recognition awards. In 2022, the winner was recognized on all THS platforms, received a trophy & cash prize $500 each, travel & accommodation (winner outside Dar) and complimentary conference registration. The opening of the award will be announced in the due course. But also, the earlier mentioned CHIA Awards; a TSH 5 million prize up for grabs by innovators (aged 35 and below) for their potentially ground-breaking health projects.
- Workshops, receptions and fun: There will be a Youth Capacity Building (YOCAB) Workshop which is designed to prepare youth for practical learning on Leadership, Communication Skills, and Career Path Development. Registration will be opened on1st May 2023 to 31st May 2023.