Denmark gives $93.8 mln for Tanzanian health sector
Last Updated: 2004-07-20

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – The Tanzanian government on Tuesday received 560 million Danish crowns ($93.8 million) from Denmark to improve the distribution of medicines and to train health workers for the next five years.

Although none of the money will be used in the purchase of drugs, some of it will be used in the distribution of antiretroviral drugs, or medicines used to inhibit the progress of HIV in the body.

The Danish government through its development agency Danida has contributed a total (840 million Kroners) $140 million to the Tanzanian Health Sector Programme Support (HSPS) in the past eight years.

"HSPS does not exclusively earmark funding for (the fight against HIV/AIDS), but will contribute by strengthening key systems necessary for its success, for example, drug delivery, hospital management and quality of district services," health ministry official Mariam Mwaffisi told a news conference.

The government plans to have about 30,000 people on antiretroviral therapy from July this year.