ZANZIBAR CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS

SYSTEM

• TheThe registrar general’s office is mandated with the registration of vital events and issuance certificate thereof (cap. 90 and 91 of 1953 law of zanzibar

The Registrar’s General Office (RGO) responsible for Registrar’s General Office (RGO) responsible for vital registration vital registration

On the other hand, the Office of the Chief On the other hand, the Office of the Chief Government Statistician, (OCGS) is mandated by Government Statistician, (OCGS) is mandated by Act no:9 of 1999 (Revised by Act No. 9 of 2007).Act no:9 of 1999 (Revised by Act No. 9 of 2007). in which it is responsible for all official statistics in in which it is responsible for all official statistics in ZanzibarZanzibar

The Department for Social and Demographic The Department for Social and Demographic Statistics (DSSD) of OCGS is responsible, among Statistics (DSSD) of OCGS is responsible, among others with the compilation and analysis of others with the compilation and analysis of demographic data.demographic data.

The Registrar’s General’s Office (RGO) is responsible The Registrar’s General’s Office (RGO) is responsible for civil registrationfor civil registration

The Office of the Chief Government Statistician The Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), responsible for population censuses, (OCGS), responsible for population censuses, demographic surveys, and other related population demographic surveys, and other related population statistics.statistics.

Population activities and registration systems in Population activities and registration systems in Zanzibar dates far back in the beginning of the twentieth Zanzibar dates far back in the beginning of the twentieth century.century.

The births and deaths registration decree Caps 90; the The births and deaths registration decree Caps 90; the laws of Zanzibar is revised as Act no: 10 of 2006 and the laws of Zanzibar is revised as Act no: 10 of 2006 and the 1936 marriage and divorce act (Caps 91; the laws of 1936 marriage and divorce act (Caps 91; the laws of Zanzibar) were last repealed in 1953.Zanzibar) were last repealed in 1953.

Past efforts were made with UNDP support, through its Past efforts were made with UNDP support, through its program of accelerating the improvement of vital program of accelerating the improvement of vital statistics and civil registration systems (1982 – 1987).statistics and civil registration systems (1982 – 1987).

where the District Registrars’ Offices (DRO)and local where the District Registrars’ Offices (DRO)and local registrar were established.registrar were established.

Facilitation of registration and issuing certificates Facilitation of registration and issuing certificates thereof at district level marked improvement in thereof at district level marked improvement in registration.registration.

However, a number of logistics were not completed, However, a number of logistics were not completed, and incapacities (both financial and technical) of his and incapacities (both financial and technical) of his RGO left many activities unattended.RGO left many activities unattended.

Vital statistics was, and remain to be an unattended Vital statistics was, and remain to be an unattended activity.activity.

In 1992/93 SIDA supported the RGO vital registration In 1992/93 SIDA supported the RGO vital registration processprocess

Equipped the district offices (with cupboards, Equipped the district offices (with cupboards, typewriters, transport equipment, etc.)typewriters, transport equipment, etc.)

Also providing training to Assistance Registrars Also providing training to Assistance Registrars (ADRs), the local Registrar and health staff responsible (ADRs), the local Registrar and health staff responsible for vital events and ward leaders on how and when to for vital events and ward leaders on how and when to register eventsregister events

The program terminated with marked improvements in The program terminated with marked improvements in registration (i.e. 75 percent of expected births and about registration (i.e. 75 percent of expected births and about one-half of all expected deaths); but again, no modalities one-half of all expected deaths); but again, no modalities were made in retrieving vital statistics.were made in retrieving vital statistics.

In 2005 DFID through Strengthening Good In 2005 DFID through Strengthening Good Governance aimed at improving record keeping and Governance aimed at improving record keeping and data management practices, but these efforts were data management practices, but these efforts were terminated prematurely due to the financial problemsterminated prematurely due to the financial problems

To carry out all registrations required under the relevant laws and to enforce the laws and ensure compliance thereof;

To maintain registers, index books, data and records on registrations effected by the office and to act as a clearing house for information and data on those registrations;

To supervise, monitor and coordinate the performance of district registrars so as to ensure compliance with the set standards and guidelines and national plans and policies;

To provide registrar, shehas, medical practitioners with such book and forms as may required, and with such instructions and directions, as he may consider necessary for the registration of births and death in their areas

Simple procedures for reporting births and deaths Simple procedures for reporting births and deaths events where they occur (i.e. at home or at a health events where they occur (i.e. at home or at a health facility) have been developed.facility) have been developed.

Each individual’s event is recorded in a separate form.Each individual’s event is recorded in a separate form.

Statement of birth includesStatement of birth includesDate of Birth, Date of Birth,

Place of birth,Place of birth, Characteristics of the mother ( age, occupation, Characteristics of the mother ( age, occupation,

nationality, residence ),nationality, residence ), characteristics of the father,characteristics of the father, sex of the child,sex of the child, kind of birth (single ,twins)kind of birth (single ,twins)

Statement of the death are resemble with the Statement of the death are resemble with the statement of birth but the statement of the death statement of birth but the statement of the death include the particular of causes of death.include the particular of causes of death.

In addition, the size of Zanzibar Islands and the In addition, the size of Zanzibar Islands and the number of local registration terminals (all district number of local registration terminals (all district hospitals and 303 of its administrative wards – hospitals and 303 of its administrative wards – (shehia)) are sufficient enough to warrant full (shehia)) are sufficient enough to warrant full registration of events.registration of events.

Filled-in forms from local registrars are sent to district Filled-in forms from local registrars are sent to district registrars, where legal registration is made and a registrars, where legal registration is made and a record kept in files (the original record is archived at record kept in files (the original record is archived at RGO).RGO).

Certificates (of birth and death) with references of Certificates (of birth and death) with references of registration are issued at request.registration are issued at request.

But, apart from adherence to core legal aspects But, apart from adherence to core legal aspects (issuance of certificates, authenticity and citizen (issuance of certificates, authenticity and citizen identification), nothing mentioned in the whole identification), nothing mentioned in the whole registration system about vital statistics from those registration system about vital statistics from those registered events! registered events!

Lack of fund for data processing particularly in Lack of fund for data processing particularly in equipments such as computers for data processing in the equipments such as computers for data processing in the production of vital statistics production of vital statistics..

Low priorities of the government on the importance of Low priorities of the government on the importance of vital statistics.vital statistics.

Budget constraints Budget is very low to certisfy the registration

system

Poor coordination between registrar and the chief statistician offices

Both are independent government institution but operate separately.

OBSTACLE (CONT…)

Gap in the birth and death registration law in which the Gap in the birth and death registration law in which the responsible institution for vital registration has no responsible institution for vital registration has no responsibility to compile, analyze, processing and responsibility to compile, analyze, processing and dissemination of vital statistic, the only responsibility is dissemination of vital statistic, the only responsibility is registers, store files and production of vital certificates.registers, store files and production of vital certificates.

The office of the chief government statistician The office of the chief government statistician establish special vital statistics unit in the social establish special vital statistics unit in the social demographic section.demographic section.

Strengthening both RGO & OCGS in vital Strengthening both RGO & OCGS in vital registration and data processing in generalregistration and data processing in general.

• Requesting fund from UNFPA in a three years Requesting fund from UNFPA in a three years project for Strengthening both RGO & OCGS.project for Strengthening both RGO & OCGS.

• Though this project a Wide Area network (WAN) Though this project a Wide Area network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) will be will be established .established .

THAN YOU FOR THAN YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTIONYOUR ATTENTION