2.0 Project Background
The TUSEMEZANE project is focused on health promotion through provision of free health care, health education and counseling among the community members in Kinondoni district. Recent studies in the district show that there are numerous health issues that need to be addressed. As far as malnutrition is concerned, Shayo and Mugusi (2011) points out that obesity in Kinondoni w
as found in 19.2% (240/1249) of participants. Over weight was present in 24.1% (301/1249) of the study participants within the district. Obesity prevalence was highest (31.9%) in age group 45 - 54 years. Prevalence of obesity in females was significantly higher than in males (24.7% and 9.0% respectively). The study further shows that the underlying relationship between knowledge and obesity as those with high level of education. “Prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in participants with no formal education (26.4%) compared to those with primary (19.5%) and secondary education (14.2%)” (ibid). In this case, the increase in the level of education shows a direct impact on the rates of obesity prevalence within the community. This raises the need to provide nutritional health education among community members within the district. Furthermore, evidence from the Dar es Salaam City Profile (2004) shows that the average status of health services in Dar es Salaam is very poor with ratio of population to physician of 18,637 (18,637 persons are under the care of one physician). With an understanding that the Tanzania cities (especially Dar es Salaam) are growing at a fast pace there is a need to address this situation with regard with the rapid population growth. In this case, there is a need to use the prevailing resources to establish campaigns that will be able to educate people on ‘healthy lifestyle’ focusing on improving the nutrition knowledge and practices and other behavioral practices that will ultimately improve the health status of the individuals. In the provision of free health care, TUSEMEZANE project will involve numerous activities which include; Height and Weight measurements, Blood pressure, Haemoglobin level, Blood grouping tests. These tests and measurements will be done so as to understand the health conditions of the people within the community so that they could be provided with relevant consultations, recommendations, counseling and guidance so as to improve their health status. As far as health education is concerned, the project will focus on issues associated with malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, Parasites (Protozoa and helminths), Social production and reproduction of diseases. These will be designed so as to help the community members to be able to understand the underlying food groups and the importance of balanced diet in the improvement of health, to understand their environment with relationship to their health and how human social behavior such as our eating habits, smoking, and drinking plays a role in the production and reproduction of diseases.
