BoT official blocked at Dar airport

Front view of the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. Public servants travelling abroad through the airport for personal business or sponsorship by NGOs face gruesome interrogations and those who fail to produce proof that they are spending their own money on their trips are stopped from leaving the country. PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

The official, on a private holiday trip, missed the flight for lack of permit

Observation at the Julius Nyerere International Airport has shown that public servants who leave the country for personal business or through sponsorship by NGOs face gruesome interrogations

By Damas Kanyabwoya,The Citizen Reporter

Dar es Salaam. Are you a government employee travelling abroad for a holiday or other personal business? Get prepared to show evidence to immigration officials that your trip is not funded in anyway by the state.

Observation at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) has shown that public servants who leave the country through the airport for personal business or through sponsorship by NGOs face gruesome interrogations and those who fail to produce proof that they are spending their own money on their trips are stopped from leaving the country.

A senior official from the Bank of Tanzania who said he was travelling outside the country on holiday using his own funds missed his flight on Sunday because he did not have documents that proved that his trip was not funded by the government.

Immigration officials told him that he was also supposed to have a permission letter allowing him to travel abroad from his employer, the BoT official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, toldThe Citizen.

“Immigration officials took me to a separate room and interrogated me for a very long time, asking me who was funding my trip and why I did not have official permission from my bosses. They said, I cannot leave the country until I come with evidence to show that I am using my own money for the trip and that I have been permitted to go outside the country,” the BoT official told The Citizen at the JNIA.

One of the immigration officials who interrogated him but refused to give his name on grounds that he was not the spokesperson of the department said, the measure was part of government efforts to curb foreign travel and fight corruption.

“He could be running away from the corruption crackdown currently underway. We really need proof that his trip has official blessings,” said the official. “No government employee can leave the country without proper documents. That is an order from above.”

Since he took office in early November, President John Magufuli has banned all unnecessary foreign travel by government officials. He has also waged a war on embezzlement and corruption, sacking and taking to court government officials who have caused losses to the government due to negligence and corruption.

A journalist working with TBC, who was also travelling overseas through a sponsorship by an NGO, passed through the immigration gates successfully on Sunday because he was well prepared. He, however, endured several minutes of interrogation in a separate room.

The journalist, who also requested anonymity, said they wanted him to produce an invitation letter to wherever he was going that showed that the said organisation was funding his trip. He also had to show a permission letter from the Chief Secretary.

“I am lucky because my bosses had already given me a permission letter which they told me to take to the Treasury. The Treasury gave me a special form that acknowledged that they were not funding the trip and I took the form to the Chief Secretary where I was given the permission letter,” the journalist said.

Employees from the private sector and NGOs are also required to produce IDs that indicate that they are not government employees before they can be allowed to pass through the immigration gates at the JNIA.

The BoT official who missed his flight blamed the airport immigration officials for their stance on the issue, saying he doubted whether what he described as harassment of government officials was an order from above.

“I know these people. They are just creating conditions for corruption. Had I given them money, I know they would have let me pass. But they cannot intimidate me,” the BoT official noted.

Yesterday, the Commissioner General of Immigration Services Sylvester Ambokile could not deny or confirm the developments directly.

“If the President has issued a directive what else do you want us to do? Those who are touched by that arrangement know what they are supposed to do. So, there is no problem if people are asked to support their trips with evidence,” he said.

Four PCCB officials axed for violating JPM travel ban

In Summary

Mr Sefue named the officials as: Ms Mary Mosha, Mr Ekwabi Mujungu, Ms Doreen Kapwani and Ms Rukia Nikitas. He said, their sacking should serve as a lesson to other public servants that Dr Magufuli’s order to ban foreign travels “is not a joke.”

By Athuman Mtulya The Citizen Reporter

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli has sacked four senior officials from the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for travelling abroad without permission.

According to Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue, the officials asked for permits to travel abroad, but they were not granted. They, however, proceeded with their trips.

Mr Sefue named the officials as: Ms Mary Mosha, Mr Ekwabi Mujungu, Ms Doreen Kapwani and Ms Rukia Nikitas. He said, their sacking should serve as a lesson to other public servants that Dr Magufuli’s order to ban foreign travels “is not a joke.”

On his third day in office, President Magufuli announced a ban on all but essential foreign travels by public servants who should first secure a permit from the President or Chief Secretary.

He also restricted first class and business class tickets to the President, Vice President and Prime Minister. Instead, Dr Magufuli ordered officials to make frequent visits to rural areas to learn and solve people’s problems.

The move was among his cost-cutting measures to avoid unnecessary government expenditure and save funds for other pressing matters affecting the general public starting with health.

Mr Sefue also directed all permanent secretaries to review trips of all public servants who have travelled abroad since the order was issued to check if they obtained acquired permits.

“They should report all those who have violated the President’s order so that disciplinary measures can be taken against them.

“In an event that a permanent secretary is not going to expose those who did not comply with the order, and if we learn of such a thing, we will extend the punishment to the PS. We expect full support from senior officials and all public servants in following presidential orders,” said Mr Sefue.

Urine Tests During Pregnancy

Time to get acquainted with that plastic cup! Learn why urine testing during pregnancy is important.

Two of pregnancy's trickier problems aregestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy) andpreeclampsia(pregnancy-induced high blood pressure), both of which have markers that show up in your urine. That's why at each and every prenatal visit, your doctor will want to test your urine — lucky you!

WHAT THE TEST LOOKS FOR

The presence of glucose (or sugar) may indicate the beginning of gestational diabetes, while protein in your urine during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia. In order for your practitioner to confirm either condition, more tests need to be done, but a quick urinalysis at each visit gives your practitioner a heads-up that's something's going on in there. Your doctor will also keep an eye out for red or white blood cells in your urine sample, which can be a sign of a UTI (urinary tract infection) that's easily treated with antibiotics.

HOW IT'S DONE

You provide the sample (so strategically time your drinking and tinkling before each visit), and then a nurse or technician either uses a dipstick or puts a few drops of urine onto testing strips (one for protein in urine during pregnancy, another for glucose). A quick color change indicates a positive test.

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE

If you test positive for glucose in your urine, try not to stress: Up to 50 percent of women do at some point during pregnancy. This is absolutely normal and expected: The majority will not develop gestational diabetes. But if you have a positive glucose urine test two visits in a row, your practitioner will probably have you take aglucose screening test sooner rather than later.

If your protein test is positive, your practitioner will follow up to see if you have any other symptoms of preeclampsia and will possibly do further tests to determine if the cause is preeclampsia.

RISKS

There are no risks of taking urine tests to you or your pregnancy — though the mechanics of peeing into a plastic cup get pretty interesting in your ninth month. So just go with the flow, Mama.

UTIs During Pregnancy: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

As if your urinary tract weren’t under enough pressure! Here’s why you need to be on guard against urinary tract infections, or UTIs, during pregnancy.

Thinkstock 

Your urinary tract is the perfect breeding ground for unwelcome visitors: bacteria. They multiply fast in areas being squished by your expanding uterus. That compression — plus the muscle-relaxing properties of the hormones flooding your body — makes it much easier for the intestinal bacteria that live quietly on your skin and in your feces to enter your urinary tract during pregnancy… and make you miserable. In many cases, you may actually have an infection even though you experience no symptoms at all — and left untreated, UTIs can cause serious problems. Fortunately, this common infection is easily treated, keeping you healthy and a whole lot more comfortable.

WHAT IS A UTI?

The urinary tract, which removes waste and extra water from the body, is made up of two kidneys, where urine is produced; two ureters, which carry urine to your bladder; the bladder itself, which collects and stores the urine; and the urethra, the tube that sends the urine out of your body. In some cases, normal bacteria from your skin and other areas can trespass into areas where they don’t belong, and the urinary tract is one of them.

While most UTIs occur in the bladder (where it’s called acute cystitis, or a bladder infection), they can occur in the urethra (called urethritis). In more serious cases, they can travel up to the kidneys (called acute pyelonephritis or a kidney infection).

CAUSES OF A UTI DURING PREGNANCY

Several factors can lead to a UTI during pregnancy, including: 

Changes in your body. All women are at risk for UTIs (even more so than men because, for starters, our urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder). But pregnant women may be even more prone: Changes in hormones may give bacteria an easier opportunity to travel up the urinary tract and cause an infection. Your growing uterus also puts added pressure on your bladder, making it more difficult to completely empty it of urine (which also means women carrying multiplesare even more susceptible to UTIs). 

Bacteria from the bowel. UTI-causing bacteria can come from several places. A common bacterial invader, E. coli, comes from the bowel. Because the urethra is located close to the rectum, these bacteria can be transported up the urethra. Wiping from front to back (instead of back to front) every time you use the bathroom can help keep bacteria away from this area. 

Intercourse. Sex during pregnancy is perfectly healthy (unless your doctor tells you otherwise) — but there is a downside: It also has the potential to lead to a UTI, as bacteria near the vagina may be pushed into the urethra during intercourse. It may not be romantic, but it’s important to urinate before and after sex to move that bacteria along. 

Group B streptococcus. This type of bacteria, commonly carried in the intestinal tract, can also cause UTIs during pregnancy. Late in your pregnancy, your doctor will test you for this infection and treat you with antibiotics if necessary. 

There are also some less avoidable risk factors. If any of these apply to you, be sure to discuss them with your doctor so you can be closely monitored for signs of an infection: 

A history of recurring UTIs 

Maternal diabetes 

Sickle cell disease 

Kidney disease 

Previous urinary tract surgery 

UTI SYMPTOMS

Every woman’s body is different, so be sure to tell your doctor about any pain or discomfort you feel — especially if you experience any of these typical UTI symptoms: 

Burning sensation during urination 

Frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate (though frequent urination alone is a common — and harmless — side effect of pregnancy) 

Intense urge to urinate while the amount of urine expelled is small 

Cloudy, dark, bloody or foul-smelling urine 

Low-grade fever 

Lower-abdominal pain or discomfort 

Pain that occurs on one side between the upper abdomen and the back or on the back; this could indicate a kidney infection, which should be treated immediately 

Chills, nausea and vomiting, which can also be signs of a kidney infection 

Keep in mind: It’s been estimated that up to 7 percent of all pregnant women have UTIs with no symptoms at all. Because an untreated infection can lead to complications — including kidney infection and, rarely, an increased risk of fetal growth restriction and preterm birth — the urine tests at your prenatal visits are really important. (Have you scheduled your next appointment yet?)

UTI DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

Think you may have a UTI? The standard way to diagnose one (during pregnancy or otherwise) is a urine culture. Most doctors will ask for a “clean catch” sample, where you pee into a cup midstream after carefully wiping your outer vaginal area.

If you are diagnosed with a UTI, your doctor will likely provide apregnancy-safe antibiotic for seven to 14 days to get rid of the bacteria. Be sure to take the recommended full course, even if you start to feel better midway through treatment, and drink plenty of water.

PREVENTING UTIS

While UTIs might happen whatever precautions you take, a few steps can help reduce the odds you’ll suffer from a UTI during pregnancy: 

Stay hydrated. Try to drink enough water every day; the increase in bathroom time helps flush bacteria out of the urethra. 

Befriend the bathroom. You may feel like you’re waddling to the bathroom every five minutes — but it’s important to never hold in your urine. As soon as you get the urge to go, go. Be sure to completely expel your urine, too (try leaning forward while sitting on the toilet). Before turning in for the night, empty your bladder again. 

Wear cotton-crotch underwear. This will help keep that area dry, as bacteria thrive in moisture. 

Wipe from front to back. This goes for every bathroom visit. 

Avoid feminine hygiene products. Douches or powders can cause irritation to an already vulnerable area. 

Eat well. Keep your resistance high by eating a healthy pregnancy diet and staying active. Some practitioners recommend eating yogurt that contains active cultures or taking probiotics if you’re on antibiotics to help restore the balance of beneficial bacteria. Ask your practitioner first, though; some probiotics are definitely more potent than others. While it was once thought that a compound in cranberry juice could help reduce UTI recurrence, experts now say the benefit, if any, is small. So feel free to sip on some of the red stuff if you’re craving it — it will help with hydratation — but don’t chug, since most varieties are also chock-full of refined sugar.

MAGAZETINI LEO ALHAMISI