Social workers’ professional body in pipeline

BERNARD LUGONGO

Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr Hamisi Kigwangalla

SOCIAL workers may soon have their professional body that will guarantee professionalism and adherence to the ethical conducts, with the government’s intention to table the Bill in the Parliament Next September.

The government’s assurance came out yesterday at the event to mark World Social Work Day in Dar es Salaam where various organisations offering social work services attended.

Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children DeputyMinister, Dr Hamisi Kigwangala, vowed that the government was fully supporting the process to form the social workers council.

He told the stakeholders under their umbrella Tanzania Association of Social Workers (TASWO) to fast track an exercise of gathering views and preparing recommendations that will be incorporated in the new Bill which would be tabled before the Parliament in September for enabling the enactment of the law for establishment of the council.

Dr Kigwangala said the ministry would continue coordinating the process aimed at formation of the council with regard to its importance in advising the government on the matter of the social work profession.

“Should we have this body, I believe that even the ministry will be relieved with duties relating to this profession. Professional issues should be done by relevant professionals,” he insisted.

Chairperson of the TASWO, Dr Zena Mabeyo, noted that social work in Tanzania started way back in 1946 and played a major role in addressing social problems, particular facing the marginalised groups. She went on concurring with Dr Kigwangala, saying once the council is established it would help in taking disciplinary measures against the unethical social workers, including deregistering them.

“Looking at the current situation, unethical social workers could be fired from the employment but yet they can go to introduce their own organisation and continue offering the services, this will not be the case when the professional body will be in place,” she said.

She also said with the increase of social work colleges and a number of social workers it shows that the demand for such service was high.

Chairman of the governing council at the Institute of Social Work, Prof Lucian Msambichaka, appealed to the government to give desirable attention to the social work profession because of current increase of social problems such as gender abuse, early marriages, drug abuse and so on.