In recent weeks, crowds have been travelling to Loliondo in northern Tanzania to drink the healing water sold by Mr Ambukile Mwasapile. Tens of thousands of people have been queuing up to pay 500 shillings (30 cents) for a cupful of the herbal concoction which is supposed to cure any illness including AIDS. The queues have been so large they have been causing huge logistical problems for the small local community. The rush for Mr Mwasapile’s magic potion reveals an equal mix of gullibility and desperation in his patients.
If Tanzania is to have a brighter future, something drastic needs to be done to improve the healthcare system. According to World Health Organisation statistics, there are 14 doctors for every 10,000 people in the world. In low-income countries there are just 4 doctors per 10,000 people. In Africa there are only 2 doctors per 10,000 people. In Tanzania, the number of doctors per 10,000 people is less than 0.5. In East Africa, health centres are understaffed, drugs are often out of stock, and even then most people are unable to afford treatment.
Health expenditure in Tanzania is just $22 per person per year, half of which is funded by government contributions, compared with a global average of $802. Although antiretrovirals for treatment of HIV infection are supposed to be free, 35% of them are paid for. For many East Africans, the illness of a member of the family pushes the family into poverty, requiring a dramatic cut in spending on food and education.