Numbers in the News — Digest #3
Data Zetu’s third digest of data-driven Tanzanian media stories.
This blog post was published as part of the Data Zetu project. Data Zetu is now an initiative of the Tanzania dLab, a local NGO that promotes innovation and data literacy through a premier center of excellence. For more information about the dLab, visit www.dlab.or.tz. For more information about the Data Zetu project, visit www.irex.org.
Numbers in the News is a recurring post highlighting data journalism in Tanzania. Learn more in our first Digest here.
Primary school completion has risen over the last four years thanks to an increase in adequate classrooms and teachers. President John Pombe Magufuli’s implementation of the free public education policy is also a large contributor. Media fellow Nuzulack Dausen reports that more still needs to be done to encourage all children to attend primary school, suggesting providing free meals for low-income students.
The nutrition of breastfeeding mothers is more important than most think. Media Fellow Angel Navuri argues the importance of mothers making sure they are eating nutritious foods, considering babies get their nutrients from their mothers milk. Malnutrition is currently high in Mbeya caused by a mothers inept dietary habits.
Treatment for HIV is reducing the virus in Tanzania therefore extending the life expectancy for those who are infected. The government’s goal is to provide treatment for 90% of infected people by 2020, assisting those who cannot afford the medication.
Navuri writes that students in Mbeya district are not meeting the primary school completion rate, which is partly due to food not being available for students. Some students can go an entire day without having food due to the distance it would take to go home and have lunch or simply because there is no food available at home.
Below are more data-driven stories that emphasize Data Zetu’s priority sectors (health, economic growth, and gender equality):
- Pretty: Beneficiary of a strong child protection system — The Guardian
- Revisiting the 7th African Grain Trade Summit in Dar es Salaam — The Guardian
- Geita student on protecting young girls after giving birth in a bathroom — Mwananchi (in Swahili)
Data Zetu is a coalition of Tanzanian civic innovation organisations that aim to empower communities to make better, evidence-based decisions to improve their lives.
The coalition consists of Code for Tanzania (CfT), Sahara Sparks (SS) and the Tanzania Bora Initiative (TBI), with global expertise from SBC4D and IREX, funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief(PEPFAR).
Data Zetu operates as part of the $21.8 million Data Collaboratives for Local Impact (DCLI) programme administered by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
