November 18, 2008
Human right’s.. everybody is entitled to…
Tanzania does not live up to the rights for obtainable health, so a lot of corruption exists. The government offers free care for TBC and cholera, among other things, but these are limited in reality due to lack of medicines, doctors, the distance to clinics and hospitals as well as the corruption among the hospital staff.
The most common causes of death in Tanzania are HIV/AIDS, TBC and cholera.
You would think that when free health care is offered, it would be much easier to be treated; however there is much ignorance and greed among the people. Most people do not even know that they can get free treatment for TBC and cholera.
Sure, it takes time for a country to develop, but it would happen much faster if the people of Tanzania were willing to develop. South Africa is a good example of quick development.
In Tanzania the people of the city have the power over the villagers since they are not as educated and easily become victims of others.
It is not often you see villagers applying to hospitals/clinics and those that do, often have to wait many days before getting any help.
Health care is just one example.
According to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Penal Code, a person arrested must be questioned within 48 hours. However, this is not so in reality. Many days can pass before people are questioned. Torture is illegal, but it exists. Family members can be taken in and tortured to get a confession more quickly.
Do those arrested know about their rights? I don’t think so.
In order for human rights to be followed, the RIGHT education is needed in all areas of work people must be informed that they in fact have rights and not accept being treated like animals.
I think that the present President Kikwete will be making drastic changes when it comes to corruption. And it is exactly that which prevents Tanzania’s development.
November 7, 2008
A Child Of Tanzania
The most vulnerable group in Tanzania is the children. There are more than 900,000-orphaned children in Tanzania and sexual exploitation of the under-aged exists, however there are no reliable figures available.
Why do the children end up on the streets? The reasons are many. AIDS is one largest causes of death and unless there are relatives to take care of the children, they will finally end up on the streets. Shattered family conditions where children escape from situations at home, where assault occurs. Other children are sent to the large cities to work and often remain.
Poor access to medicines and economy prevent parents with AIDS from getting the care they need. The children often end up with their mother or paternal grandparents; however they are not always capable of taking on the task.
Assault on children is a big problem. The elders do not often feel that they are doing something wrong and the children often think that it is how things should be, they are brought up to obey their elders regardless. If they have suffered this, there is little chance of their being believed as the elder’s word is of more weight and it is not often openly discussed that they can be strongly punished for their “lies”.
When parents can no longer support their family and themselves, they often send their children out to work. Once they have learned to like the city, they are easily presented with the possibilities of making fast money. Boys often become criminal and the girls sell their bodies. These children are between 12 and 16 years of age.
The children of Tanzania grow fast psychologically and have great responsibilities that they cannot shoulder. The minimum age for marriage is 15 year of age for girls and 18 years for boys. Parts of the Indian population and local customs practices in Tanzania allow girls to be promised for marriage at the early age of 12. What does one know about marriage and being a wife at the age of 12? What did you do between the ages of 12 – 15?
I am today going on 26 years and I feel, no I know, that I have a lot to learn about life, parenting and about myself. I am presently engaged and will in time marry, however I have been given the chance of being a child and even if the government counts me as being an adult, there is a lot of knowledge to learn before I see myself as being adult.
The question I ask myself every day is, why can’t the Swedish system work in Tanzania? One day I hope to find the answers. Couse I want to give a better life for the children of Tanzania
AmIna Box 