TANZANIA NATIONAL NURSES ASSOCIATION (TANNA) TANNA REPORT ANNUAL NETWORK MEETING MBABANE SWAZILAND 12 TH – 13 TH FEBRUARY 2010 By Romana Sanga TANNA - Executive Secretary 1

Introduction Background Tanzania is a United Republic of two countries – Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar There are union matters and non-union matters; health is not a union matter hence our association is for the Tanzania Mainland only. N urses association was established in Tanzania on 29 th November 1971 which was known as Tanzania Registered Nurses Association (TARENA) 2

Introduction cont’d In 2005 the constitution was reviewed and our association changed to Tanzania National Nurses Association (TANNA) and this has enabled the involvement of not just registered nurses but also all enrolled nurses throughout the country 3

Introduction Currently TANNA has a total of 8,500 members out of 22,000 Enrolled and Registered nurses The Association has a total of 29 Regional Branches TANNA operates and is guided by its constitution which was adopted after it was established in

Political and Social Events Annual General Meeting in April 2009  Various nursing stakeholders supported this meeting financially. These were individuals and organizations from both private and public sectors.  Enabled nurse’s, both members and non members, to participate and share the views on the nursing profession and challenges they face in providing services to the community. 5

Political and Social Events International Nurses Day  The International Nurses Day was commemorated successfully nationally in Dar Es Salaam and in all Regional branches and hospitals across the country  TANNA invited the Prime Minister, Honorable Peter Kayanza Mizengo Pinda, (MP) as Guest of Honor for the occasion. 6

Political and Social Events International Nurses Day cont’d  In his speech he urged nurses to abide to the nursing ethics and promised to support nurses.  In cerebrating the Nurses Day, TANNA held a four day exhibition which involved nurses from Dar es Salaam showing nurse activities and services to the clients.  The exhibitions gave TANNA the opportunity to be better known by the public at large. 7

LEADERS FORUM  TANNA held its leaders forum on 10 th -12 th December 2009  Three representatives from 28 Regional TANNA Branches attended the meeting. These were the chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers  The forum aimed to explore the challenges facing TANNA and nursing profession 8

Country’s Economy and its Impact to Health Positive impact: Improving infrastructure for easy access to health facilities etc Construction of health facilities for each village to serve the public Ensuring availability of drugs in all health facilities Implementing policies that emphasized on reducing mortality rates especially Maternal and Child Mortality Rates 9

Country’s economy and its impact to health Implementing policies that put emphasis on the fight against malaria, ITN especially for hospitalized mothers and infants Provision of Ambulances for many District hospitals Provision of mobile free services for testing HIV/AIDS Provision of free ARV for victims of HIV/AIDS Increasing enrollment of more nurse students in order to tackle acute shortage of nurses in the country. 10

Country’s Economy and its Impact to Health Negative impact Health facilities experience acute shortages of human resources Power shortage has had serious impact on the provision of services in all health facilities. Due to shortage of funds some health facilities are non operational 11

Challenges to Nursing  65% Shortages health professionals at facility level which is more severe in rural areas.  Demand of quality health services against the limited resources  Professional nurses mobilization from within the country and outside the country  Epidemiological change of diseases contribute to challenges for nursing services, for example HIV /AIDS pandemic, T.B, malaria and others. 12

Challenges to Nursing  Negative public image towards services provided by nurses  Low pay of nurses compared to other professions  Insufficient lobbying skills  Insufficient working tools 13

TANNA Activities  Implemented TANNA needs assessment, to get views from TANNA how to strengthen TANNA  The outcome of the assessment made it possible to design a work plan which will enable the establishment of those activities.  Mobile libraries that funded by ICN and operated in the refugee camps were placed under the government-owned schools of nursing 14

Future planned activities for TANNA  Training on lobbying skills  Implement a positive working environment campaigns.  Continuing education at working place  Screening programmes for diabetics etc  Promote practice in research standards 15

Mission and Vision of our Association Vision A national leading and reputable Nursing/Midwifery professional group for excellence in Nursing education, research, Nursing/midwifery practice and other health service delivery (TANNA Strategic Plan, 2006) 16

Mission and vision of your association Mission The Association is dedicated to promote competencies among the Nurses and Midwives for quality provision of nursing, midwifery and other health services nationally and internationally using its well- equipped and highly motivated regional branches. Taking a wide look around at what’s going on outside the Association and how it might affect the professional Association 17

Categories of Nurses in Tanzania  There are 8,850 Registered Nurses i.e. nurses with educational level of diploma and degrees  There are 14,454 Enrolled Nurses. These are nurses with certificate level of education  All are legible to be members of the association 18

TANNA Branches and TANNA members  TANNA Branches  There are 29 branches in all regions and national and referral hospitals.  TANNA members  TANNA has a total of 8,500 but only about 3,500 members are active. 19

International Affiliations ICN in collaboration with UHCR and MERK has been working with the project of Mobile Library which introduced 37 libraries in phases SANNAM- collaborates with SANNAM in Research proposals of HIV and AIDS in Tanzania, holding meetings and sharing health related issues and challenges. 20

International Affiliations  ECSACON - in meeting presentations of issues in nursing particularly HIV and AIDS.  Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNA) Supported TANNA in 1995 purchasing an office vehicle and office building, but currently those properties are worn out.  CNF – In 2009 Successfully conducted a workshop in Dar-Es-Salaam on infection control. 21

National and International Affiliations Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - Recognizes the Association and has supported it in paying the annual fees for its membership in International organizations i.e. ICN, ECSACON and SANNAM 22

Experiences on SANNAM The majority of TANNA members are not aware of SANNAM. However current leaders have been active in the activities of SANNAM and have continuously been sensitizing them to TANNA members in various meetings. 23

TANNA legal standing: Strategic plan and constitution TANNA members are all licensed by the Tanzania Nurses and Midwives Council which is statutory organization regulating the nursing and midwifery professions TANNA is registered by the Registrar of Associations. 24

Source of in come  Membership fees and subscription  Fund raising programs  Donation, gift and grants  Subsidies from the Government  Loan from any financial institution  Sale of Association assets  Any other sources as authorized by the TANNA leadership 25

The Major Challenges in the Sustainability of our Association  Poor communication due to inadequate funds  Lack of full time administrative staff to all levels of TANNA leadership structure. 26

Challenges in the Sustainability of Association  Negative public image towards nurses  Low number of TANNA members  Insufficiency training and lobbying skills to TANNA leaders  Insufficiency funds to promote quality nursing services to improve positive image to the public  Insufficient incentives to retain/attract nurses in their working places particularly in rural areas 27

Way forward  Sensitize more nurses to join TANNA  Improve communication  Employ permanent staff to the National TANNA headquarters  In service Training  Find ways to improve income generating activities for nurses  Considering making the association a union 28

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