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Catalyzing injury prevention in Tanzania: From grassroots to the national stage
Michael L. Wilson, MPH, PhD-MBA (cand.)Director
Centre for Injury Prevention and Community Safety (CIPCS)PeerCorps Trust Fund
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Tanzania
51 million pop.
50% under 15 years
Swahili / English co-official +100
Religious harmony
Politically stable
Rapidly developing
Dar es Salaam*
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PeerCorps: Origins
Started by 6 medical students at University of Dar es Salaam (2004)
Grassroots peer to peer education for HIV awareness and prevention (2004 - date)
Too many organizations focused on only part of the population health burden
Survey of child injuries in Dar es Salaam (2009)
CIPCS - Commitment to research, training, advocacy and practice (2009 – date)
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Activities since 2009 20 Peer-Reviewed studies (mostly on child and adolescent
safety)
Co-supervised student master theses on elder abuse, child burn prevention, falls
Training of medical students in IP/SP
Active contributor to Safe Communities activities
Attempted to host an East African Regional Safe Communities Conference (2014)
Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
Tanzanian Injury Prevention Network (2014)
Three Star Coalition for Road Traffic Safety Member (2015)
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What have we learned
Injury prevention is mainly a political problembut also an information problem at all levels
Donor agencies have far too much influence in local policies and practice and contribute to personnel brain drain from other important areas of prevention
Communities themselves are ready and able to embrace Safe Community concepts...the problem lies in reaching them in large numbers
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Problems we still face
Perception of injury as an avoidable problem
Fatalism – injury due to bad luck / sorcery (witchcraft)
Community needs are often dictated by someone else
Capacity limitations
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Moving in a different direction
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Tanzania Injury Prevention Network (TIPN)
Membership extended to companies, researchers, safety practitioners and others
A voice for SP/IP in Tanzania
Coordinated by PeerCorps-CIPCS and Steering Committee
Interest is there!
Violence, traffic safety – core themes
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ICT for IP/SP
Interactive toolkits for education, advocacy and training
Home safety, fire safety, traffic safety...
For more info www.tandli.com
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Thank you for your attention
Contact: [email protected]
