Women TAPO, Aga Khan partner to boost healthcare for women vendors
Women TAPO chief executive officer Lulu Yassin (left) and Aga Khan Hospital Services, Tanzania, (AKHS-T) acting director general Karim Dharani sign a cooperation agreement to help women entrepreneurs working in the markets access health services. The event took place in Dar es Salaam on Friday, September 13, 2024. PHOTO|MICHAEL MATEMANGA
What you need to know:
- The partnership aims to address critical health issues affecting women vendors, including poor hygiene, reproductive health challenges, musculoskeletal disorders, and limited access to affordable healthcare.
Dar es Salaam. The Women TAPO has joined forces with Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania (AKHS, T) to enhance healthcare access for women vendors, girls, and children across the country.
The partnership aims to address critical health issues affecting women vendors, including poor hygiene, reproductive health challenges, musculoskeletal disorders, and limited access to affordable healthcare.
Women Tapo is a dynamic community-based organization (CBO) that is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women working as local market vendors.
It also focuses on enhancing the economic well-being and social status of the women by providing support, resources, and opportunities as well as creating a positive impact on the lives of women vendors and promoting gender equality in local marketplaces through varied initiatives and programmes.
Through collaboration with the AKHS-T, the partners will provide mobile health screening camps and develop affordable health packages to address conditions like hypertension, breast, and cervical cancer.
The initiative will also offer joint health education campaigns and nutritional support for malnutrition and diabetes.
On top of that, the partnership will extend healthcare services outreach programmes to remote areas through the AKHS-T's extensive network of health centres.
“We are excited to partner with Women TAPO to break barriers in healthcare access and support women vendors in Ilala and Ubungo districts,” said the head of outreach health centres at AKHS-T, Mr Hassan Ali.
“This collaboration allows us to provide essential healthcare to a vulnerable and significant group of women," he added.
The Women TAPO executive director, Ms Lulu Nyapili, expressed optimism: "This partnership marks a transformative step for women vendors in Tanzania. We are confident it will have a lasting impact on their health and livelihoods.”
The AKHS-T’s CEO Mr Sisawo Konteh echoed the sentiment, stating, “This initiative aligns with our mission to improve health outcomes and make a meaningful difference in the lives of Tanzanians.”
