Social Problems and Social Work in Tanzania Community

Social Problems and Social Work in Tanzania: Community Based Social Work Approach Dr. Thadeus Mkamwa St. Augustine University of Tanzania April , 2014 SUDET Workshop-University of Tampere

Introduction: Hyena Square (2007) Identify major community services issues which have to be looked at in order to resolve social problems as shown in the video clip. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=UODCeqp VEEE

Social Work in Practice Young offenders People with mental health conditions School non-attenders (truants) Drug and alcohol abusers People with learning and physical disabilities The homeless The elderly Orphanages Child headed houses Early pregnancies

The Disease Burden The life expectancy-below 51 years average Decline in infant and under five mortality, BUT overall Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and prevalence of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis still high Intervention-Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), Counselling and Testing, distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets, health care to orphans, the elderly etc. Challenge: Increased social worker workload

Fertility and Mortality

Age Dependency and Life Expectancy

Mo. HSW Challenges Ø Uncontrolled population growth Ø Socio-cultural changes, HIV/AIDS pandemic and poor socio- economic trends Ø The situation: welfare services are in great demand due to these increasing social problems, which are exacerbated by poverty, and the effects of HIV/AIDS

Population in 1950 -2100

Specific Social Problems Specific problems which need social welfare services interventions including: Child labour, early pregnancies, child abuse, child neglect and family rejection Alcohol and drug abuse, increasing levels of destitution, commercial sex (prostitution), cases of sexual assault

Specific Social Problems Households headed by children and /or elderly people Family disintegration, marriage breakages, number of street children, number of orphans, vulnerable children Widows/widowers, elderly (aging), human trafficking especially children

Human Development Index (1=most developed)

Rationale for Community Based Social Work The shortage on the social welfare staff Decentralization Policy: Social Welfare services to be rolled out to the lower levels (Previously Social Welfare services were rendered at Central and Zonal level only) The government policy of 2002 which does not allow standard seven leavers to be employed as social workers

Rationale cont. Scheme of services does not allow employment of lower level Social Welfare cadres including the certificate and diploma level These cadres are trained at the Institute of Social Work Dar es Salaam but in most cases are employed by the private sector employed in the government facilities

HSWS: Organization and Institutional Framework The Government operates decentralized health system, i. e. , three functional levels: üDistrict (Level I), üRegional (Level II) and üReferral hospitals (Level III) q Community Based Social Work is practical: üIt is offered from the village level üReduces bureaucracy in implementation üPrinciple of subsidiarity-decentralization

Quality Livelihood Promotion Lack of sources of financial services (esp. rural areas) High information barriers, infrastructure, women being neglected Poor linkages with the formal sectors Bureaucracy in reaching out to the poor Poor accessing the national services in the economy

Way Forward CB Social work - inclusion of the youth (and low- income earners) Make available and accessible financial services and opportunities to the youth CB-SW makes the services cost effective, fair and transparent Mainstream the youth, women, low income earners in the national welfare services agenda

Community Based SW: Goals Enhancement of quality of life and wellbeing of vulnerable individual, groups and families Early childhood care and development Transformation of social welfare services: Accessible, Available, Affordable, Approachable Enhances: subsidiarity and collegiality

Example: SAUT – Partners Projects SAUT & Western Ontario University: local women’s groups on a sustainable nutrition focused social-enterprise based on probiotic yoghurt These micro-enterprises have economically empowered women A means for women to facilitate health within their communities Enhanced the local economy- the probiotic yoghurt is helpful for people living with HIV/AIDS and nutritionally compromised

SAUT-Partners Project Under the leadership of Kivulini, NIMR, SAUT, BMC and CUHAS -establishment of: Micro-enterprises which have grown from three to ten community (probiotic yoghurt) kitchens in Mwanza Since 2012, approximately 4000 people have been purchasing the probiotic yoghurt or receiving it free of charge as beneficiaries living with HIV/AIDS

Intervention at Community Level Probiotic bacteria has been shown to build immune response, and reduce diarrheal diseases that occur because of prolonged use of antibiotics, ARV’s and HIV/AIDS itself As a nutritious food supplement, the probiotic yoghurt would be an ideal addition to the management of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania Increase food security Secure the future of children and youth Stimulate sustainable economic growth

TISW & Partners in Training SW Tanzania Institute of Social Work (ISW) Strengthen the Tanzania’s social welfare workforce and to strengthen the social work profession in Tanzania Goal 1: Organizational development, advocacy, recruitment and retention and establishing a regulatory framework Goal 2: Establishment of national Social Work Council to regulate the social work profession Goal 3: Enhance continuing education for SWs

Tanzania Association of Social Workers (TASWO) The national professional association for social workers in Tanzania TASWO is non-profit and nongovernmental and was established and registered in May 1982 with a registration no. SO 629 TASWO: professional liaison body which incorporates National, Regional and International associations Furthering the development of social work professional values, ethics and interests

The Social Work Council of Tanzania Registration and regulation of social workers Ensure actors are informed of the needs and objectives the Social Work profession Recognition of the profession of social work Preventing the use of unqualified staff Provide public protection-get services from qualified social work staff Recognition of a statutory accreditation authority of institutions which offer SW training

Training Trends in Social Work The AIHA (American International Health Alliance (AIHA) Social Work Program expanded in 2010 Involves strengthening of social work education by standardizing and harmonizing BSW and MSW programs in potentially twelve institutions in Tanzania Emerging Schools of Social Work Education Program (TESWEP) Partnership with JACSW/MATEC of the University of Illinois in Chicago

References Hyena Square - Published on Mar 14, 2014 on Youtube Hyena Square (2007): Hyena Square in Dar Es Salaam is a hang out for Tanzania's young prostitutes For downloads and more information visit http: //journeyman. tv/57777/short-film. . .

References q Open Data for Africa: http: //tanzania. opendataforafrica. org/rckvry g/tanzania-country-outlook-economicbusiness-environment-and-health-sector q Vinisha Venugopal (2014). African Development Bank Group q World Development Indicators and Global Development Finance (September, 2011) q World Population Prospects. The 2010 Revision. (Updated June, 2011)