It is in this regard that a high-level delegation from Zanzibar Ministry of Health was on a four-day-long official visit, from 25 to 28 July 2022, to the Health Promotion and System Strengthening (HPSS) project, to learn from the project’s wealth of experience in evidence-based and innovative health solutions.

The delegation was led by Zanzibar’s Deputy Director of Prevention and Health Education, Dr Salim Slim. His main interest was to learn about the Community Health Fund Insurance Management Information System (CHF-IMIS) and Jazia Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS), a complementary procurement system for health commodities when Medical Stores Department (MSD) runs out of stock.

“We are here to learn on how we can satisfy our quest to improve the provision of safer, equitable, accessible, efficient, and effective health services at all levels through proper use of affordable health technologies”, said Dr Slim.

“And we couldn’t think of any other better place to learn about the innovative health system strengthening interventions than here at HPSS”, he said.

During the visit, HPSS Project, which supports the government of Tanzania in its efforts to strengthen the health system and consequently improve service delivery to communities through President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) and Ministry of Health (MoH), oriented the delegation on the major interventions it has implemented since 2011.

The interventions include health financing with focus on improved CHF (iCHF), Medicine Supply and Management in the area of Jazia PVS, Health Technology Management and Health Promotion.

HPSS further facilitated work sessions between the mission and relevant government officials at PORALG and MoH in order to accord a chance to the visiting delegation to have discussions regarding the implementation of crucial health system interventions.

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit a number of health facilities such as Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital and Makole Health Centre (Dodoma City Council) to have first-hand experience and learn the practical application of CHF-IMIS and Jazia PVS.

“We are greatly inspired by HPSS project’s innovative and transformative health solutions. Our visit here has indeed been an eye opener for us and we trust HPSS will extend its generosity to the people of Zanzibar by supporting our health system strengthening drive with the requisite expertise”, Said Dr Slim.