NEW TB DRUGS TRIAL

TRIAL NEW TB DRUGS BEGINS OCTOBER

The new TB (Tuberculosis) drug which is likely to shorten the duration of treatment and be more effective will start with clinical trials in October in Bagamoyo District.

Hitherto, full treatment of this killer disease took almost six-to-eight months and recently conventional drugs did not appear to be 100% effective. The new medicine is likely to shorten the span of treatment, possible by more than 50% and may likely replace the old drugs.

In order to arrive to a scientific conclusion of the new TB drug, a community based well-knitted team work, assembled at the  Bagamoyo Branch of Ifakara Health Institute for a “brush-up” seminar on Wednesday morning. Almost eighty people attended the instructions delivered by Coordinator of the project Dr. Omar Juma, the project team leader Dr. Thomas Zoller, Dr. Mwinyi Kambi Salum and Lab Technicians.

The delegates were drawn from National Tuberculosis & Leprosy Programme; IHI staff and scientists; Community Advisory Board members from 24 villages in Bagamoyo District; Health Workers,  Artists & Singers who will portray the campaign. They will all play their respective roles in locating and managing the treatment of TB Patients in Bagamoyo District covering a study area of 1160 km2 in 24 villages. The study area has a total of administrative demarcated  offices of 3 Division, 8 Wards and 24 Village Governments.

Speaking politely but firmly, he asked the entire team to look at the whole exercise seriously with a positive end result. He mentioned, among others, three major points which were: (a) implementation of new diagonistic methods to speed-up the exercise; (b) to get all the team members to work seriously; (d) to analyze the effectiveness of the new TB drug in comparison to the  conventional medicines.

For information: TB is one of the world’s deadliest pandemic diseases and is increasingly resistant to current drugs. TB is the leading infectious killer of people with HIV/AIDS disease. TB kills someone approximately every 20 seconds, or 4100 every day. Nearly 1,500,000 were reported to have died of TB in 2013 throughout the world.

Dr. Thomas Zoller a Scientist from Germany and who is the Project Leader of the new TB drug speculated that with a properly laid ground work, location of TB patients through laboratory investigations and full treatment will surely result positively. 

For information: The Bagamoyo Branch of Ifakara Health Institute was established in 2005 as a site for malaria drug and vaccine clinical trials. Recently it expanded the services to cover TB and HIV/AIDS related research work. It is financed by TB Alliance with active support from various organizations including Australia, USA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, European Commission, Global Health Innovation Tech. Fund, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease, UNITAID, UK Department for International Aid, US Food & Drug Administration.

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

Team Leader of the new TB Drug clinical trials at IHI Bagamoyo, Dr. Thomas Zoller and Coordinator of IHI Dr. Omar Juma speaking to over 80 delegates who attanded the seminar at Bagamoyo on Wednesday.

A group picture of the participants who attended the one-day seminar to effectively manage the clinical trials of the new TB Drug which will begin in October this year.

Participants listening attentively to the Lecturer Dr. Omar Juma in the conference room of IHI Bagamoyo.

Health Workers, Artists, Lab Technicians, Community Advisory Board Members listening to the lectures at the one-day seminar held in Bagamoyo.

23RD AUGUST SLAVE TRADE & ITS ABOLITION: REMEMBRANCE DAY

23^rd AUGUST: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR REMEMBERANCE

OF SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION

Member States of the United Nations observe 23^rd August with dismay the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Bagamoyo or Bwagamoyo (abandon your soul in Kiswahili) was the exit port for slave trade, a classic example of antagonism in human history which manifested  exploitation, suppression and humiliation of Africans.

The  then exploitative economic system of “Slavery” culminated in the “development of some European and American states” by the forceful use or misuse of  the human labour.

The UNESCO Executive Board in its 150^th session, passed the resolution to observe 23^rd August as the International Day for Rememberance of Slave Trade & Its Abolition. Other comparable observances include “international day for remembering  the victims of slavery & transatlantic slave trade 25^th March”; “International Day for Abolition 2^nd December”; “The International Year for people of African Descent 2011”; “International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination 21^st March” and “International Day for Tolerance 16^th November”.

Directly or indirectly, all the above mentioned subjects and dates intermingle with the August 23^rd remembrance of Abolition Of Slave Trade And Its Abolition.

The transatlantic slave trade in human beings were between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Carribeans. 

This abominable economic system of “slaverism” was a recognized system in favour of (some)  now the most developed countries. It was a legally based system in which people were legally considered as property of other people. Thereby, a Slave had few rights, just to keep him/her alive so that slaves could be bought or sold and forced to work for the owner without any choice or payments.

The abolition of the slave trade gained momentum during the end of 1700, initiated also by England which had gained favourably out of slave trade and also the French Revolution of 1789 which focused on the issues of freedom, equality, happiness and fraternity in Europe. Religious bodies also condemned the slave trade as it caused much suffering to human beings.

In the then Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the subsequent actions were enforced and slaves enjoyed the air of freedom by issuing to them the recognized certificate of freedom!

History shows that Denmark and Norway were the first countries in Europe to ban the slave trade.

Slavery is no longer legal anywhere in the world but human trafficking remains an international problem and it is estimated that nearly 30,000,000 persons are living in illegal slavery conditions today. 

Notorious agents, recently used Tanzania as a transit country to transport people from countries north of Tanzania to South Africa, perhaps for a greener pasture. The trade was immediately arrested by Tanzanian Authorities and appropriate legal actions were enforced. 

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

A replica of a Slave carrying an elephant tusk. Both the trade; slavery and elephant tusks were a thriving business passing through Bagamoyo. The replica of the slave is at the entrance door of Caravan Serai, now a museum and at that time, the begining stage of the long safari to the western part of Tanganyika for these abominable trade.

The historical handcuffs or slave chain: source Tropen Museum, Nederlands. Ijzeren Vietringvoor.

JAMIL-MOSES THE CHAMPS

Bagamoyo: The overall champions of the 123kms treacherous and gruelling motor rally which was held in Bagamoyo, Driver Jamil Khan and Navigator Moses Matovu took the main trophy. Trailing behind the champions, by just fractions of points were Driver Tufail and Navigator Maisam also in their rally prapared Subaru.

Twenty two cars participated and only 14 managed to finish. 

See more pictures below and the final results as announced by Mzizima Motor Sports Club Hidaya who was cheered and applauded for her leadership in this difficult sport.

Pictures & Story by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

The service crew promptly attending to Car No. 26 Evo IX which was driven by Erfan Aladin and Navigator Prabh Bharat. They managed to finish in 6th  position and were among those awarded trophies of participation.

Nadeem Zakaria of Maji Poa (Murzaha Group) the main Sponsor of the Maji Poa Mzizima Rally which was held in Bagamoyo, receiving appreciation trophy from the organizers. The Chairperson Madame Hidaya along with her colleagues appear jubilant after the presentation.

The Champion Driver Jamil Khan getting ready for his second lap with his co-driver Moses Matovu. They did wonderfully well without being penalised  at any check-point. He is well known for making quick decisions when behind the steering wheel. He drove the rally prepared Subaru make car.

MAJI POA MZIZIMA RALLY BAGAMOYO

MZIZIMA RALLY BAGAMOYO

JAMIL KHAN DID IT AGAIN!

Bagamoyo: The grueling 123-kms Maji Poa Mzizima Rally, passing through some  treacherous and dusty roads in Bagamoyo, concluded with the expected best performance by youngsters driver Jamil Khan and navigator Moses Matovu. In all 22 rally prepared cars entered the competitions but only 14 managed to finish and  8  had various technical and mechanical problems.

The young driver, a mechanic by profession and well known as a  quick-decision-maker when competing, managed to snatch the “championship trophy” recording just ahead of his close rival Driver Tufail with Navigator Maisam who stood second. Both the top two winners drove in their rally prepared Subaru.

Out of fourteen cars which finished to the end at the Kiromo Hotel, eight were Subaru make. Two cars driven by Shafiq and Gurjit Singh met with accidents with no serious injuries reported. The two cars along with other six which reported of electrical, suspension damage pulled out of the so-called treacherous rally organized by Mzizima Motor sports club under their lady Chairperson  Hidaya.

Fourteen various business organizations including the main Sponsor Maji Poa of Murzaha Group donated cash or material towards the two day rally which attracted motor clubs and drivers from Arusha, Tanga, Dar es Salaam  and Morogoro. On Saturday, Bagamoyo residents, mainly rally fans, saw the rally prepared cars displaying their skills behind the wheel at the hilly Kingani spot, just outside the main Bagamoyo town. 

The Mzizima Motor Sports Club paid for the extra expenses of  the competitors at hotels etc. Individuals or motor companies had organized make-shift service crews. They were seen busy attending to cars with mechanical or technical electrical faults after going through initial laps.

The presentation was well managed with the well-knitted officials and volunteers who were all appreciated by the Chairperson Hidaya with presentation of certificates and trophies to them and donors. All participants were also given trophies with special trophies to the top winners.

Story & Pics by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

The final results as recorded by Faheem Aloo, a rally volunteer from Moshi.

Driver Mohammed with his Navigator Hersh (partly seen on right) keenly observes as his car No. 46 make Evo VII being checked and repaired.

One of the main sponsor Red Bull displayed their large road sign at Kiromo Hotel where the rally started and ended.

Faheem Aloo the man behind the computer who recorded the points and final presentation of the results. Faheem is the third generation in the family which take keen interest in motor sports. They have a garage in Moshi, Kilimanjaro.

The championship trophy, held high by Driver Jamil Khan and Navigator Moses Matovu immediately after the presentation ceremony in front of a large crowd. The main sponsor Maji Poa of Murzaha Group representative Nadeem Zakaria (bearded 2nd left) and Mzizima Motor Sports Club Chairperson Hidaya (in orange) all celebrating the victory of the famous winners.

NHIF Headquarters

A general view of the NHIF Headquarters at Kurasini, Dar es Salaam. The NHIF in conjunction with Tanzania Bloggers Network organized a one-day seminar for Journalists of Blogs mostly based in Dar es Salaam. The TBN has as at today 104 members and more are being registered so as to give them a single platform.

The Director for Marketing & Reasearch of NHIF Mr. Rehani Athumani talking to Journalists of TBN during a one-day seminar. In the foreground is the Chairman of TBN Joachim Mushi. All pictures and stories by Bagamoyo News Blogger Abdul Hai.

SEMINAR FOR TANZANIA BLOGGERS

 BLOGGERS ATTEND NHIF SEMINAR

Dar es Salaam: The Tanzania Bloggers Network in conjunction with National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) held a one-day seminar for Blog Representatives in Dar es Salaam with a common purpose to popularize the affordability of quality health services.

The Bloggers who were almost 35 in number, mainly from Dar es Salaam, were told about the benefits of taking up membership with NHIF at rate of TShs. 76,800/= per membership per card which would give them easy access to medical treatments at recognized large hospitals which were almost 20 in number. Considering the very high expenses of medical and surgical treatment at hospitals in the country, the access to medical treatments through membership of NHIF would be affordable.

The Director of Marketing & Reasearch of NHIF, Mr. Rehani Athumani speaking to the Journalists and Photographers was anxious to see the Bloggers used their respective Blogs to popularize the efforts of NHIF in spreading "the access to quality health services". 

He said that the NHIF started the campaign step by step in 2001 and by 2004 they had managed well in spreading the campaign. The efforts of the NHIF were now to spread throughout the large and small towns and villages in this vast country. And hence Blogs which reached communities were expected to further the campaigns and also allow the bloggers network to join the NHIF.

The Director was assisted by several of his colleagues who answered numerous questions posed by the Bloggers. 

The Chairman of the TBN, Joachim Mushi and assisted by Secretary Khadija Khalili were at the high table to ensure that the six hour seminar was well conducted at Kurasini, not very far from the NHIF headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

All the attendees were provided with fliers and pamphlets and T-Shirts with NHIF emblem.

Story & Pix by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

Chairman of the TBN Joachim Mushi receiving complimentary T-Shirt marked with NHI emblem from the Director of Community Health Fund Mr. Eugen Mikongoti. On the left is Secretary of the TBN  Khadija Khalili.

Benefits of the packages offered to NHIF Members and their beneficiries.

Director of Marketing & Reasearch Mr. Rehani Nassoro addressing the journalists at the TBN Seminar. On right is TBN Chairman Joachim Mushi and on left Secretary TBN Khadija Khalili.