PBF Team Visit to Dioceses and Hospitals in Southern Zone

PBF Rungwe Pilot Project team and CSSC Zonal Secretary made a visit to three churches and four hospitals in Southern Zone for one week- from 22^nd to 27^th May 2011.  The aim of the visit was: to advocate and share information on PBF Rungwe Pilot Project  to church leaders and hospitals in Southern Zone of the CSSC.

The team started with Tunduru – Masasi RC Diocese and Met with the Bishop and discussed with him PBF project and its benefit towards health care provision.   The Bishop was quite positive towards the project concept.

 Later, we met the management team of Mbesa Hospital which is under the Christian Mission in Many Lands (CMML), the hospital is in Tunduru District and has 120 beds, 113 staff out of which 4 are doctors who are expatriates. PBF team presented the concept, which was appreciated by the team, who question it application in an environment whereby it is difficult to sign Service Agreement with local Government.  It was explained that this was a process which we need to keep on with plus contacting right people to influence policies.  The management team explained that, their staffs have 2 years contracts.  Above that, they give certain amount of money for hard working staff as part of motivation.  They were advised to apply the PBF principles in motivating the staff which are clear and transparent for all the staff.

Moreover, we had the chance to meet management of Nyangao hospital in Lindi, which had CDH status since 2009.  The PBF Team presented the PBF concept to the team and hence had  discussion.  Through the discussion, It was noted that hospital is doing quite well and has reasonable staffing level.

 On the other hand meeting with ELCT Iringa Diocese officials was quite a success.  We presented the concept, the officials understood  and accepted it.  They indicated that through PBF it is definite to improve performance in workplace and thus make their facilities competitive.

Additionally, we meet with Officials of the Moravian Church of Tanzania- South West Province, whose office is based in Mbeya.  Here the team liked the idea and had questions related to issues on motivation.  However, the later confirmed that this approach could also be applied in other sectors such as education as some of successful private schools do in the area.

We had a good discussion with Ifisi hospital management team which is under Evangelistic Church of Mbalizi and located in Mbeya Rural District of Mbeya Region.  Generally, the management raised many issues such as: how PBF can work in CDH environment, the motivation package, impact of project etc.  The team discussed with management team about the issues raised and they promised that they will study how to apply some of the key parameters of PBF in their hospital management.

Lastly, we visited Mbozi Mission hospital in Mbozi District of Mbeya Region. This is one of the famous hospital in the region as it was opened as a hospital back in 1961.  Again, the management raised interesting questions related to the project and stressed on sustainability of the project which were accordingly answered through discussion. 

From the Visit made it was noted that:  the church leaders are ready to support this health care financing model which is result oriented.  On the side of the management team, they considered that the hospitals can apply this approach when they have reliable source of funding such as stable Service Agreement with Local Governments.