The Girl-Child and Government Service Provision.pdf - Tanzania ...

Health workers’ viewsAll the health workers who were interviewed indicatedthat shortage of personnel, poor working conditionsand low salaries are some of the important issues thatthe government should focus on in order to improveservice delivery at local levels. Staff houses and laboratoryfacilities are needed in these government facilities.In Misima dispensary (Sindeni ADP), for example, therewere only three staff where six were needed and nolaboratory facilities, such as a microscope. The dispensarydoes not have enough rooms for different functions,and at present the injection section has been combinedwith wound dressing, both activities taking place at somesmall room.Conclusion andrecommendationsThough government social services such as primaryschools, health facilities (dispensaries and health centres)and secondary schools are available for use by children inthe villages visited during this study, they are inadequate innumber and lack necessary structural and infrastructuralfacilities such as personnel, buildings (classrooms, staffhouses), furniture, laboratory facilities, teaching aids, booksand so on. A number of children and their families find itdifficult to access these services due to factors such aslong distances, overcrowding, corruption and bad attitudeamong government workers. Due to significant increasesin poverty at the household level, families find it difficult tomeet costs associated with the education and health servicesfor their children that have been introduced by thegovernment.Over the five years from 1997 to 2002 girls in standard Irepresented 46 per cent of the students in the five primaryschools visited. More girls than boys dropped outfrom primary education due to factors such as pregnancy,early marriage, harmful traditional practices and lack ofsupport from their parents. Fewer girls (by 6 per cent)than boys were selected to join secondary schools overthe same time period. Compounding factors included girls’overworking at home and in schools, sexual harassment byadults, sexual relationships while at school, lack of time forstudy and rest at home and low self-esteem among girls.SAPs failed to mitigate poverty problems in Tanzania; andthe ongoing poverty reduction strategies are yet to recordpositive changes in the war against poverty, especially inrural areas. Over the last decade there has been a significantincrease in poverty in Tanzania, especially in rural areas.For the poverty reduction strategy to become moreeffective, the ongoing policy discussion and implementationmust deliver pro-poor growth. The process shouldnever be just the elite. All Tanzanians from all walks of life,children to adults, need to have a collective vision and participatein the process.Access to water was cited by a number of respondents ashaving great potential to alleviate the situation of the girlchild,especially in rural households. More spending by governmentand development partners in this area is needed.The energy sector also has a wide impact on girls’ wellbeingin rural areas. Rural electrification, bio-gas, solar systemsand so on must be high on the development agendafor rural areas, as these will help unlock many girls fromthe chains of domestic work.Though the PEDP has entered into its second year ofimplementation, more funds and resources are still neededto boost the sector. Government needs to increase spendingon education. Education as a system needs to providechildren with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and valuesthey need to break out of the cycle of poverty and securesustainable livelihoods. The ongoing poverty reductionstrategy needs to encourage recognition of the relevanceof education.More resources are needed to improve the capacity ofhealth facilities (dispensaries and health centres) to delivermuch-needed services to the communities. More health facilitiesshould be put in place. The government should aimto ensure that citizens have access to health services in eachvillage. Health facilities should be stocked with enough andappropriate medicine, qualified and motivated personneland auxilliary facilities such as laboratories. Due to highpoverty levels, the majority of poor rural dwellers are findingit difficult to pay user fees. All development partnersmust seek an alternative financing model, one that takes careof the real situation of the ordinary person in the village.More measures must be taken by government to ensureaccountability of government workers. Good governanceprinciples and ethics need further implementation. Poorworking conditions, lack of facilities and low incentives toThe Girl-Child and Government Service Provision 47