“Citizens’ Hearings in Tanzania have opened a door for me to live my dreams and fly far in the world”

By Mwajuma Hatibu Sempule

My name is Mwajuma Hatibu Sempule, councilor for Kwediboma Ward in Kilindi district, Tanga region, Tanzania. As a leader, I was invited to participate in one of the meetings organised by White Ribbon Alliance and World Vision to prevent the deaths of mothers and children under five. The large number of participants included government officials, political leaders, media, NGOs, children and youth.

On that occasion I found that there were many questions coming from the community that deserved government’s attention.

I realised that the community was right, it was indeed a great opportunity for them to air out their issues and challenges related to maternal and child health, and I replied to some of their questions which were relevant to me. The meeting was conducted in a way that people were free to present their opinions, including about women walking long distances to be attended in health services, inadequacy of health workers, delays in building health facilities, lack of or unreliable ambulances to drive pregnant women or sick children to referral hospitals in case of complications that need emergency care. Ignorance and poverty were mentioned among other challenges. More interesting was that during that meeting, children and youth were given a chance to share their views on health issues.

During the Citizens’ Hearing, a number of recommendations and solutions were brought forward by the participants:

1. The government should listen to and involve community members, and meet the health policy standards;
2. The government should ensure availability of health workers, support community initiatives in the construction of health facilities and provide health education to pregnant women;
3. Families should be cooperative during community health workers’ visits;
4. The government should collaborate with NGOs which act as the bridge with communities.

I was very pleased to find out that communities from my ward, composed of six villages, had started building health centers through their own initiatives and resources. The Kilindi District council promised to support citizens in building this health facility as part of their priorities. Government and media visited the site and congratulated me for being a good councilor and strong woman.

One week later, we heard our voices in media. We were thrilled because we did not know where to take our concerns, and then we realised our voices had been heard through local televisions and newspapers. My husband who saw me on television congratulated me and said “You are a role model and a leader for your community. I am proud of you”. I was even more excited when I received a call from Daud Gambo, World Vision manager of Kilindi maternal newborn and child health project, informing me that myself and Mohamed had been nominated to represent Tanzanian citizens at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.  I couldn’t believe it at first. My husband and the community at large were very excited for me. I thought that for a woman like me and for a young man like Mohamed born with congenital disorder (albinism) to represent Tanzania in such a high-level meeting, it was an opportunity for local level advocacy and participation of the most vulnerable in global development arenas to do wonders. 

In Geneva, Daud and I together with World Vision staff had the pleasure to meet the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations, Hon. Modest J. Mero, and share the successes of the Citizens’ Hearing as well as the efforts we are making to reduce maternal and child deaths related to pregnancy. The Ambassador told me: “Be a good ambassador and tell the world what you have done to help the community to be source of development”. The 21st May 2015 was a great day for me and Mohamed to raise our voices in front of the World Health Assembly. I was overwhelmed when I saw the venue full of white and black people ready to listen a woman from Tanzania who cannot speak English. Luckily my intervention was translated by Kenney, a journalist who acted as the moderator during the Citizens’ Hearing in Tanzania.

As a leader, I promise to work in collaboration with government and NGOs to take community concerns to the government and vice versa, and save the lives of pregnant women and children.

Citizens in the world should support governments and NGOs in initiatives to end preventable maternal and child deaths. But the overall objective will not be reached unless everyone plays his/her role well, and that are held mutually accountable.

I would like to thank my husband who has been encouraging me to work hard, and allowed me to attend the meeting. Moreover I thank World Vision for empowering women and for equipping communities with tools to know their rights and responsibilities through Citizen Voice and Action. I also thank White Ribbon Alliance for convening this Citizens’ Hearing that has opened a door for me to live my dreams and fly far in the world.