Evaluation Of Zanzibar's Diaspora Policy In Promoting Health Services(2010 To 2018)

Zanzibar,which is the area under study,has been not adequately benefited by Diaspora contribution to its development efforts,regardless having many of its population living and working abroad.With interest to find possible strategies to enable Zanzibar government to use Diaspora policy for realization of Diaspora contribution in the health services in Zanzibar and national development at large,this dissertation evaluates Zanzibar Diaspora policy in promoting health services(2010 to 2018).It identifies the importance of Diaspora's contribution to the Zanzibar health services,unveiling Government policy and strategies toward Diaspora and presenting the achievements and challenges facing Diaspora's doctors for their contributions to the health services in Zanzibar.This is a descriptive study undertaken using qualitative techniques which involves document review for secondary data and field survey technique that includes in-depth interviews.As a qualitative approach,the study that focuses on the evaluation of Government Diaspora policy toward Diaspora contributions to health services in Zanzibar employs purposive and convenient sampling techniques which involves twenty(20)Patients treated by Diaspora health specialists,seven(7)Officials from Ministry of Health,five(5)President's Office responsible for Diaspora matters and four(4)Diaspora Doctors as respondents in this study.Interpretive analysis was found more appropriate and used for this study,because of the nature of the data collection technique used in this study.The study reveals that there is a considerable contribution of Diaspora in the health sector improvement in Zanzibar in various aspects.Relating to exchange of skills,knowledge and sharing of experiences,the findings show that Diaspora promotes health services in Zanzibar by building the capacity of the local Doctors by providing practical knowledge during treatment.They train the local specialists on various health treatment matters including surgery and how to use the new technologies related to health.The study also shows that there is slight difference to attaining health services from urban and rural areas in Zanzibar,due to the contribution provided by Diaspora.This gap was filled due to the Diaspora strategy of providing services in the rural areas.However,according to the study,despite the on-going efforts,the urban areas have sufficient health-related centers comparing to rural areas.Also,creating a network connecting Doctors from destination country to origin country was another remarkable contribution of Diaspora in Zanzibar health sector in this study.Finally,influencing public health policy and practice through advocacy and direct contacts in medical profession and Government was another success of Diaspora contribution.The potentials of effective implantation of Government Diaspora's policy towards Diaspora contribution in Zanzibar health sector promotion are promising.Transient commitments were seen as the choice for the present circumstance.Formation of an organizing body in Zanzibar healthcare sector which practically to manage Diaspora health specialist contribution is recommended.The purpose of the Government of Zanzibar to connect with its Diaspora in the national development process through a comprehensive Diaspora policy,particularly in the health sector is highly creditable.Zanzibar Diasporas are the most important strategic stakeholders in the diplomacy and development field.It is therefore crucial that they are to be involved in policy discussions,since the practical execution of any policy proposal requires Diaspora to play a leading role in the process.More important,Diaspora are the key agents in the establishment of linkages between migration and development,and without their strategic interventions it is not possible that initiatives on development and migration can succeed or achieve the expected results of health service improvement.According to the analysis and findings of this thesis,the recommendations for the Government policy are as follows: Firstly,effective implementation of a comprehensive national Diaspora engagement policy which would involve selective programs in order to connect the Zanzibar national development needs of especially health-related needs and Diaspora capacities more systematically.The implementation of the existing Government Diaspora policy should involve the Diaspora since at the initial stage so as to avoid unnecessary restrictions in the future.Also,cultivate targeted plans in specific areas of the Diasporas for example educated and skilled people,those with cash to contribute,youth,business people who want to invest,retired or resigned experts and those occupied with low pay salary.Moreover,the Government should launch and fund the Diaspora meetings aiming to provide training to Zanzibar local health workers so as to attain knowledge,experience and confidence in their professional duties execution.