Source: Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
INFANT mortality has sharply dropped in Moshi Municipality, from 160 in 2006 to 18 last year per 1,000 live births, a decline of 142 deaths.
Maternal mortality also decreased from 262 to 181 per 100,000 live births over the same period of time,
a report presented to journalists by the Moshi District Commissioner, Dr Ibrahim Msengi, has revealed.
The detailed report, which demonstrates implementation status of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) election manifesto, shows that for the period under review, the number of health personnel decreased from 105 to 47, a deficit of 58 employees.
The report further disclosed that HIV/AIDS patients, who were under antiretroviral (ARV) therapy have increased from 199 to 10,604, a rise of 10,405 recipients for the past seven years.
Turning to agriculture, the report reveals that production of various crops has increased from 2.1 tonnes to 5.2 tonnes a hectare, a rise of 3.1 tonnes per hectare, while fertilizer application has risen from 20.5 tonnes to 280.2 tonnes, an increase of 260 tonnes.
The use of quality seeds has risen from 15 tonnes to 59.7 tonnes, an increase of 44.7 tonnes for the period between 2005 and last year, while inputs subsidy has gone up from 19.72 tonnes to 280.4 tonnes. According to the report, the number of power tillers has reached nine up from 2 some seven years ago, while the use of big tractors has risen to 21 up from 12 over the same period.
The report further reveals that Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) have increased from 32 in 2005 to 58 last year, a rise of 26 SACCOS over the period under review and that so far, loans totalling 64m/- have as at last year, been dished out to youths and women.
The municipal council earned an income of 4.1bn/- from own sources last year in contrast to 900m/- it earned in 2005, an increase of 1.5bn/-, while government subsidy increased from 5bn/- in 2005 to 22.1bn/-, a rise of 17.1bn/-. The number of Moshi municipal residents who have access to safe and clean water has reached 99 per cent as at last year, up from 95 per cent in 2005, an increase of 4 per cent.