COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES 

AN OVERVIEW ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE MODELS IN THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN TANZANIA (ELCT) 2003 - 2014 

As a tradition in any Health System, all health endeavours should integrate curative and preventive work. Similarly; ELCT – Managed Health Care Programme (MHCP) which started Phase I in 1997-2002 had a component on Primary Health Care. 

Since most of the time of this Phase was for sensitization of stakeholders on the new programme, there was no enough time to assist ELCT Dioceses and health facilities in developing Comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) activities in most of dioceses. 

MHCP Evaluation in 2002 recommended that MHCP should make initiatives to strengthen PHC to respond to health promotion needs at household level and help ELCT health facilities to actively participate in improving health in districts where ELCT operates. 

Following this, a PHC Project Proposal Phase II implemented during 2003 – 2007 was prepared as MHCP Component with funding from DMCDD jointly with Danish Lutheran Mission, and DanMission. 

The project was later granted another funding up to 31st December 2008. During the discussion on future of MHCP in Annual Partners meetings, it was recommended that PHC work was needed now than ever. 

This prompted the development of PHC Project Phase III as a component of MHCP III. ELCT acknowledged continued support from DMCDD in collaboration with Danmission and DLM for this important move.. Project grant started in January 2009 and continue up to 20014. Phase III of ELCT Project was developed as core component of MHCP III to consolidate the activities initiated during earlier Phases. 

Advocacy at districts for diocesan PHC plans integration in Comprehensive District Health Plans was emphasized in consideration of Tanzania health needs as stipulated in Tanzania Vision 2025 so as to contributing to achievement of the Health-Related Millennium Goals (MDGs) 1,3,4,5,6 &7 by 2015 and both the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA) I & implemented in 2005 - 2011 and the NSGRP II implemented in 2010/11 – 2014-2015. 

The on-going ELCT approach of strengthening PHC in the Dioceses goes hand in hand with the World Health Organization Report of 2008: “Primary Health Care Now than Ever”.