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Village
 Public Health Educators:
Transforming Health in Rural Tanzania

Despite global efforts to improve medical services and patient care practices, equitable access to quality healthcare services – a fundamental human right – remains a persistent challenge, particularly in underserved rural communities like the Maasai in Sinya Ward, Longido District, Tanzania.

In recognition of this reality, a three-year community health worker project is being funded and guided by Sauti Moja Canada and Sauti Moja USA, locally led by Sauti Moja Tanzania in partnership with local clinics and in collaboration with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center University College (KCMCUCo)-Institute of Public Health.

This project is complementary to Tanzania’s ‘National Operational Guideline for Community-Based Health Services, 2021‘ (CBHS 2021), but is less comprehensive; it is focused on the priority health needs of Sinya Ward. In 2024, Sauti Moja Tanzania staff conducted focus group discussions with community members in Sinya Ward to better understand their needs and challenges.

The findings indicated initial priorities for public health education: sexual and reproductive health; diet, disease and childcare; and socio-cultural challenges to health.

  • HOW PHEs SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES

Bridging Communities and Healthcare in Sinya Ward

This project will enhance maternal and child health services in Sinya Ward through training and engagement of community health workers, who we refer to as Public Health Educators (PHEs).

In 2025, Sauti Moja USA supported six PHEs to complete a training with KCMCUCo-Institute of Public Health. These six PHEs now serve as a bridge between their local Maasai communities in 10 sub-villages and the formal government healthcare system.

In Tanzania today, maternal and child health services are free for all pregnant women and children aged 0-5. Yet some pregnant women and mothers living in rural Maasai villages struggle with how to access these services, including free infant vaccinations, prenatal care, and facility births, due to distance, language barriers, and lack of prior information and experience.

In response to these challenges, the PHEs conduct home visits to encourage pregnant women and mothers to utilize the formal healthcare services. They also provide home-based education about good nutrition and sanitation practices and screen and identify children and families suffering from malnutrition to refer them for care.

In addition, the PHEs serve as a patient liaison and advocate at three different health facilities by providing support and translation services during maternal and child health clinic days.

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Join Us in Supporting This Work

To date, local village leaders, clinic staff, and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health have shown great appreciation and support for this joint Sauti Moja project. Raising funds for this project continues to be a top priority for Sauti Moja USA, and we ask for your support in reaching our goals. Please contact Sauti Moja USA with any questions or comments about this project. To see our objectives, outcomes, and key PHE activities, see below.

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PROJECT GOALS & FORWARD MOVEMENT

Objectives, Outcomes and Key Activities

Community health will be enhanced through public health education that contributes to improved mother and child well-being as well as by addressing social challenges to these.

Project
Objectives

  1. Enhanced accessibility to clinic(s) and accessibility to health information through translation and accompaniment for medical support, including assisting doctors, and supporting medical follow-up.

  2. Provide public health education on sexual and reproductive health as well as diet, disease and childcare.

  3. Promote prevention and control of disease at family and community level, including healthy practices and infrastructure for water, sanitation, and hygiene.

  4. Raise community awareness about socio-cultural challenges to family health and well-being, and support actions to address these.

  5. Forge partnerships with medical institutions and collaborate with local bodies to advocate for policies prioritizing healthcare access and infrastructure development in rural areas.

Key PHE
Activities

  1. Build trust in clinic by referring sick persons and supporting service in Maa plus following up, when needed, with home visits to patients

  2. In each sub-village, establish and train a Women's Health Group (15 members) who will relay monthly health messages to other families. They become local knowledge holders and support PHE activities.

  3. Lead family health education at the village level, including promotion of WASH

  4. Conduct growth monitoring of children, advise on infant feeding, and refer malnourished to clinic

  5. Promote immunization of children, and vaccinations for illnesses, such as measles and COVID

  6. Promote and facilitate HIV-testing, counsel those HIV-positive, and monitor and support use of ARVs

  7. Promote safe sex and ensure condoms are readily available in the village

  8. Sensitize public to issues of alcoholism and its relationship to men's mental health and family well-being

  9. Raise awareness of women and child rights, especially girls

  10. Provide first aid response to injuries

  11. Submit reports, including collection of data, to project manager

Expected
Outcomes

  1. Increased access to and use of local healthcare services

  2. Improved knowledge and adoption of healthy practices

  3. Reduced morbidity of children

  4. Increased village engagement in health matters

  5. Demonstrated model for improving health in remote traditional communities

Fund the Future of Community Health
in Tanzania

Raising funds for this project is a top priority for Sauti Moja USA. Your donation directly supports PHEs serving Maasai communities in Sinya Ward.

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Contact Us About This Project