NBS NEWS LETTER

ISSUE NO: 24 DATE: APRIL, 2017

SDGS 2030: MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE
 Issue NO: 24 Date: APRIL, 2017

OPTIMISM HIGH AS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2016 HIV SURVEY SHOWS SIGNS OF

SUCCESS

NBS Director General, Dr. Albina Chuwa presenting the progress report of 2016/17 Tanzania
HIV Impact Survey to the Acting Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Kagera Region
Mr. Wambura Sabora (not in the picture) during her visit in Kagera in April, 2017.

At least 90 percent of the
targeted participants to the
countrywide 2016 Tanzania
HIV Impact Survey
(2016THIS) has been reached
in 17 regions, and already
data collection has been
completed.
The update on the
implementation of the
2016THIS was made by the
Director General of the
National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), Dr. Albina Chuwa,
during her visit to Kagera--
Region to oversee the data
collection process and hear
from data collectors
regarding the general
progress of the survey.
Dr. Chuwa said to the regions
where data collection was
ready done, many people
participated and acceptance
rate was over 90 percent
which is a good percentage
which will provide the
average and the national HIV
incidence.
Im happy to info you that,
the ongoing HIV survey is at
per with the plans, especially
where mobilization and data
collection were done. Weve
attained 90 per cent of the
target, which shows that
there was good acceptance
of the survey and it will
provide the national with
accurate data, said Dr.
Chuwa when revealing the
progress of the survey before
the Acting Regional
Administrative Secretary
(RAS) of Kagera,--

2
 Issue NO: 24
Mr. Wambura Sabora.
Dr. Chuwa said regions which
have completed data collection and
biomarkers include Singida,
Dodoma, Manyara, Iringa,
Njombe, Ruvuma, Mbeya,
Songwe, Rukwa, Katavi, Tabora
and Kigoma.
For his part, the Acting RAS of
Kagera Region, Mr. Sabora,
promised Dr. Chuwa that, the
survey would be a success in all
areas of his region and others
because Tanzanians are
cooperative and leaders from
national level to local government
will participate effectively.
Ill make sure the survey attains
its goal so that the country would
get the most current official
statistics on HIV incidence.
I thank you for your visit in our
region as you monitor the progress
of the HIV survey in general, said
Mr. Sabora.
The 2016THIS implementation run
smoothly in most parts, except that
there were a few challenges
including unfriendly weather
conditions, distance from one
household to the next, distance
from EAs to selected Satellite
Laboratory, vehicle breakdown
and other geographical factors that
hindered the smooth movement of
data collectors resulting into
increased number of days for data
collection in EAs.
Another challenge was when
officials came across people
who dont seem to understand
the process coupled with the
general fear of the survey. The
2016THIS survey will help in
obtaining the estimates of the
burden level to HIV in
Tanzania, examine the uptake
of preventive and
care/treatment related services
at the population level, and
estimate the prevalence of
HIV-related risk factors, HIV
incidence at the national level,
HIV prevalence, CD4 counts,
syphilis prevalence, uptake of
HIV-related services,
(especially prevention of
mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT)-related services) and
exposure to HIV interventions
and the testing of hepatitis B
and C.
The survey goal is to cover at
least 16,000 households,
meaning at least 40,000 adults
and some 8,000 children.
The data and information
collected will facilitate in
making more informed
decisions, planning and
policies related to HIV and
health issues in the country.
Date: APRIL, 2017
The 2016THIS
implementation run
smoothly in most parts,
except that there were a
few challenges including
unfriendly weather
conditions, distance from
one household to the
next, distance from EAs
to selected Satellite
Laboratory, vehicle
breakdown and other
geographical factors that
hindered the smooth
movement of data
collectors resulting into
increased number of days
for data collection in
EAs.
Another challenge was
when officials came
across people who dont
seem to understand the
process coupled with the
general fear of the
survey.
3
 Issue NO: 24
NBS GETS ITS 2016 BEST EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
It was a moment like no other
when Dr. Margareth Martin was
nominated the best overall
employee of the year 2016 in the
nomination of 2016 National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Best
Employee of the Year.
Dr. Martin becomes the overall
winner after scooping more votes
compared to his two rivals, Mr.
Abbas Mlemba, who is a Senior
Statistician, and Mr. Stambuli
Mapunda, a senior Human
Resource Officer.
Dr. Martin, who is the Regional
Statistical Manager for Arusha, g
obtained 53 votes followed by Mr.
Abbas Mlemba who scored 31
votes, and the third runner up was
Mr. Stambuli Mapunda who got
29 votes.
Every year, NBS nominates the
best employee of the year to
motivate them to work hard when
fulfilling their duties. This is even
as all members of the staff at
NBS.
As usual, the nomination starts at
the department level where a
member is nominated by peers
through a secret ballot. The
winners at this level then contest
at the directorate one,--
and here is where they are
allowed to present their
arguments during a general
meeting as to why they are the
most suitable for the award.
So, on Election Day, the
contestants from the different
directorates pass from office to
office and try to win over the
voters.
Just before election time, the
contestants are given a chance
to explain themselves and ask
for votes before the NBS
conference, here they are given
five minutes each.
As usual, it is the secret ballot
that decides who becomes the
the overall winner of 2016 NBS
best employee of the year.
Speaking after being nominated
the winner, Dr. Martin said she
deserved to be the overall
winner because she is a hard
worker and was glad that most
of her colleagues have
witnessed her efforts.
I thank everyone for showing
trust in my efforts. The vote is
proof that you see me as a hard
worker and as deserving this
award. I appreciate your vote
for me and I must say that this-
Date: APRIL, 2017
victory did not come easily given the
fact that even my rivals are good at
what they normally do, said Dr.
Martin.
She said further that ever since she
got employed by NBS, her passion
for work has always been going up,
pushing her to work hard and her
wish is to remain a committed and
hardworking public servant during
all the years of service.
Dr. Martin challenged her colleagues
at NBS to continue working as a
team and ensure that the
performance of the agency keeps
reflecting efficiency in order to
produce quality outputs, that is,
quality and relevant statistics which
is crucial for national development.
The process of nominating the best
employee of the year was
coordinated by NBS Workers Union,
a branch of the Tanzania Union
Government and Health Employees
(TUGHE).
I thank everyone for showing trust
in my efforts. The vote is proof that
you see me as a hard worker and as
deserving this award. I appreciate
your vote for me and I must say that
this victory did not come easily
given the fact that even my rivals
are good at what they normally do,
said Dr. Martin.
4
 Issue NO: 24 Date: APRIL, 2017

INFLATION RATE FOR APRIL STAGNATES AT 6.4 PERCENT

NBS Director of Population Census and Social Statistics, Mr. Ephraim Kwesigabo briefs the media
about Consumer Price Index figures for April, 2017 in Dar es Salaam.

THE headline inflation rate for
April, 2017 has stagnated at 6.4
percent as it was recorded in
March, 2017.
Addressing reporters in Dar es
Salaam when releasing Consumer
Price Index (CPI) for April, 2017,
the National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS) Director of Population
Census and Social Statistics, Mr.
Ephraim Kwesigabo, said the
speed of price increase for
commodities in April has
remained the same as the one
recorded in March.
The CPI for April, 2017 has
stagnated at 6.4 percent as it was
recorded in March, 2017 but the
overall index has increased to
109.04 in April, 2017 from
108.44 recorded a month before.
The increase of the overall index
was attributed by the price
increase of some food items
such as maize grains which
increased by 4.8 percent, maize
flour by 7.1 percent, lentils by
6.5 percent, round potatoes by
4.0 percent, tomatoes by 7.8
percent, coconut by 6.9 percent,
cassava by 5.9 percent and--
onions by 3.5 percent, said
Mr. Kwesigabo.
The monthly inflation rate for
April has increased by 0.5
percent compared to an
increase of 1.4 percent
recorded in the previous
month.
Mr. Kwesigabo said the
inflation rate for food
consumed at home and away
from home has increased to
12.0 percent during the
month under study from 11.7

5
 Issue NO: 24
Movement of National Consumer Price Indices (NCPI) and Inflation
Rates from April, 2016 April, 2017. (Dec., 2015 = 100)
percent recorded a month before
while the 12 month index change
for non-food products has
slightly decreased to 3.4 percent
in April from 3.6 percent
recorded in March.
The inflation rate which
excludes food and energy for
April has slightly increased to
2.3 percent from 2.2 percent
recorder in March.
The purchasing power of 100
Tanzanian Shillings has reached
TZS 91 and 71 cents in April,
2017 compared to TZS 92 and
21 cents a month earlier.
The CPI for April, 2017 has
stagnated at 6.4 percent as it
was recorded in March, 2017
but the overall index has
increased to 109.04 in April,
2017 from 108.44 recorded a
month before. The increase of
the overall index was attributed
by the price increase of some
food items such as maize
grains which increased by 4.8
percent, maize flour by 7.1
percent, lentils by 6.5 percent,
round potatoes by 4.0 percent,
tomatoes by 7.8 percent,
coconut by 6.9 percent, cassava
by 5.9 percent and onions by
3.5 percent, said Mr.
Kwesigabo.
Date: APRIL, 2017
The inflation rate for
food consumed at home
and away from home has
increased to 12.0 percent
during the month under
study from 11.7 percent
recorded a month before
while the 12 month index
change for non-food
products has slightly
decreased to 3.4 percent
in April from 3.6 percent
recorded in March.
6
 Issue NO: 24 Date: APRIL, 2017

NEW NBS HEADQUARTERS TO COST TSHS. 11.6 BILLION

NBS Director General, Dr. Albina Chuwa listen instructions from Supervisor of Y&P Company
Limited which oversees the construction of NBS Headquarters building in Dodoma during the visit
of NBS Staff to the site. The event took place in April, 2017.

A total of Tshs.11.6 billion will
be spent on the construction of
the new National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) Headquarters in
Dodoma, it has been revealed.
This was revealed by the
Director General of NBS, Dr.
Albina Chuwa, during her visit
at the construction site in
Dodoma recently.
Dr. Chuwa said the Y&P
Company Limited, which is
overseeing the construction, has
pledged to complete the work as
per the time-line shown in the
contract of 10 months.
Ive witnessed that work is
progressing on well. I trust the
contractor will complete the
work in time as per the contract.
The Tshs. 11.6 billion is a loan
from the World Bank, and this
will be sufficient to complete the
work, said Dr. Chuwa.
Dr. Chuwa said NBS will make
sure it provides the maximum
supervision over the construction
so that the contractor does not
only produce quality work, but
also completes it within the time-
frame.
For his part, the General
Supervisor of Y&P Company,--
Mr. Mtumwa Shomvi, said his
firm was committed to delivering
quality work within the agreed
timeframe saying he was
optimistic all would be done in
time because all the requirements
were already on site and work was
going on.
The NBS headquarters currently
under construction is located near
Dodoma Convection Centre
(currently known as Kikwete
Hall), which is a property of
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM),
and will also be close to the
Ministry of Finance and Planning
and Bank of Tanzania (BoT)
Dodoma Head Offices.

7
 Issue NO: 24 Date: APRIL, 2017

NBS PICTORIAL NEWS

NBS Director General, Dr Albina Chuwa (at the center) and the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) representative Dr Eunice Mmari (first from right) listen instruction from data collector Mr
Johnmark Obura in Kagera during the visit of NBS, CDC and ICAP Senior officials to the field
2016 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey.

The preparation of NBS building foundation which is constructed in Dodoma region.

The building of NBS headquarter office is expected to be finished in 2018.

8
Issue NO: 24 Date: APRIL, 2017

NBS PICTORIAL NEWS

NBS Director General, Dr. Albina Chuwa (third from left) in a group photo with participants of
the workshop of Environmental Statistics for the East African Community (EAC); the workshop
was conducted in Arusha in April, 2017.

Some of the citizens of Kanisani Kitongoji in Idamnole village at Chihangu ward in Newala
district in Mtwara region gathered in community meeting which was conducted in their area to
mobilize them to participate in the 2016/17 THIS survey. The meeting was held in April, 2017.

9
For comments and suggestions please contact:- Director General: National
Bureau of Statistics 18 Kivukoni Road P. O. Box 796, 11992 Dar es Salaam
Tel. +255 22 2122722/4 Fax: +255 22 2130852 E-mail: dg@nbs.go.tz,
Website: www.nbs.go.tz