The Contribution Of International Nongovernmental Organizations In Promoting Elderly-Friendly Health Services Delivery In Tanzania: A Case Of Helpage International In Morogoro Municipality

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the contribution of INGOs in promoting elderly-friendly health services delivery in Tanzania: a case of the HelpAge international in Morogoro municipality with three specific objectives, namely to examine the role of INGOs in resource mobilization and funding to improve physical health infrastructure in Tanzania: to investigate the extent of facilitating training of staff in for preventive health to elderly people in Tanzania; and finally to investigate the efficacy of INGOs advocacy in enhancing curative services for elderly people in Tanzania. The study adopted the triangulation research approach by utilizing both quantitative and quality data. A sample size of 43 respondents from Sabasaba (21) and Kilakala (22) wards were involved in this study. The study found that INGOs have a role in providing medicine, medical equipments and medical personnel to target centres. In preventive diseases, INGOs have contributed in providing education to the elderly people through their trained staff on how to prevent diseases. In curative advocacy, INGOs have adopted national and local advocacy strategies including peer educators who champion the rights of elderly people‟s access to quality and affordable healthcare through the provision of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Community Health Fund (CHF) cards. The study employed the regime school theory, common international theory, neo-corporatist theory, functionalism theory and liberalism theory were used to guide this study since the selected theories analyse the contribution of INGOs in promoting elderly-friendly health services delivery. The study recommends that the government, NGOs, CSOs and FBOs to invest in infrastructure to cater for elderly-friendly health services. The study suggests that further study to be conducted on the sustainability of local NGOs supporting elderly friendly health care provision without external funding.