What Sh1.3 billion post-crash care project means for Tanzania
A representative from the Ministry of Health, Dr Goodluck Tumaini, speaks at the launch of the Strengthening Post-Crash Care in Tanzania project, which took place in Dar es Salaam on Friday, March 14, 2025. Seated at the centre is the World Health Organization's Health System Coordinator, Dr Galbert Fedjo. PHOTO | HELLEN NACHILONGO.
What you need to know:
- The project will implement and evaluate the impact of six components of the WHO emergency care toolkit in pre-hospital and hospital settings along Tanzania's busy highways, connecting the north and south of the country.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian government has launched a project aimed at providing capacity-building training for communities on how to deliver first aid services to road crash victims.
The Strengthening Post-Crash Care in Tanzania (Sprint) project, worth $485,350 (about Sh1.3 billion), will run for three years and seeks to improve post-crash care and outcomes for victims of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs).
The initiative is funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and is a collaborative effort with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the National Road Safety Council, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The project will implement and evaluate the impact of six components of the WHO emergency care toolkit in pre-hospital and hospital settings along Tanzania's busy highways, connecting the north and south of the country.
MUHAS head of the emergency medicine department, Prof Hendry Sawe, explained that the project's goal is to improve post-crash care by building the capacity of ambulance services and training lay first responders.
These trained responders will be equipped to provide immediate care at crash scenes, ensuring safe transport of victims to health facilities with enhanced emergency care capabilities.
“The project will strengthen post-crash care by improving the capacity of both pre-hospital and hospital emergency care systems to provide timely first aid at the scene, safe transport, effective emergency care, and appropriate disposition of RTI victims,” said Prof Sawe.
He added that the project aims to reduce avoidable deaths, prevent lifelong disabilities, and improve outcomes for RTI victims.
Furthermore, the implementation of standardized trauma forms will help develop a national trauma registry, supporting quality improvement, assessment, and evidence-based decision-making for policymakers and relevant authorities.
The project’s comprehensive approach will address gaps identified in Tanzania’s emergency care system, following assessments conducted by WHO and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
These gaps are believed to significantly contribute to the high mortality and morbidity rates from RTIs in the country.
WHO’s health systems coordinator, Dr Galbert Fedjo, described the initiative as critical, noting that road accidents in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Tanzania, are responsible for numerous fatalities and disabilities.
Tanzania's road traffic death rate remains alarmingly high at 16 deaths per 100,000 people.
“Many of these deaths and disabilities could be prevented with timely emergency care. However, Tanzania faces significant gaps in its emergency care system, including a lack of structured coordination, no formal emergency medical services, and no central dispatch system,” said Dr Fedjo.
The Fire and Rescue Force Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bashiri Madhehbi, confirmed that part of the funds will be used to procure ambulances and train 400 paramedics to enhance emergency response capabilities.
A representative from the Ministry of Health, Dr Goodluck Tumaini expressed optimism about the project’s potential to reduce road traffic accidents.
“We are hopeful that through this project, we will achieve positive outcomes and reduce the number of road crashes,” he said.
