Zanzibar deepens health ties with Nigeria
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR is set to enhance the quality of its healthcare services following a renewed commitment to deepen cooperation with Nigeria, which has already deployed 35 specialist doctors and nurses to support service delivery across the islands.
The Zanzibar government, through the Ministry of Health, has reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening collaboration with African institutions, particularly Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), to secure additional experts who will boost professional efficiency and accelerate transformation in the health sector.
The commitment was made after a high-level working session between leaders of Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health and a Nigerian delegation led by that country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, accompanied by senior NTAC officials.
The meeting, held recently reviewed progress in implementing existing agreements aimed at fortifying the health system, especially through developing local specialist capacity.
Permanent Secretary in the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Dr Mngereza Mzee Miraji, said the agreement has enabled the deployment of 35 Nigerian health professionals to Zanzibar, including general practitioners, specialist doctors and specialist nurses.
He noted that the experts have been strategically assigned to hospitals and health centres across the islands.
He said the initiative supports the government’s mission to improve healthcare quality from primary facilities to district and regional hospitals, with a long-term goal of producing local specialists who will help close long standing service gaps.
Dr Miraji added that both sides are exploring expanded cooperation in health research, including collaboration with Zanzibar’s national research institution to develop capacity for producing medicines from local natural resources such as medicinal plants and trees.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerian government for its continued support and called for sustained assistance, particularly in supplying high level specialists as Zanzibar positions itself to join other African countries offering advanced medical services.
Providing more details, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Amour Suleiman Mohammed, said the current team includes neurosurgeons, spine surgeons, ophthalmologists and specialist nurses already stationed in district hospitals.
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He stressed that one of the key expectations is for the Nigerian experts to mentor local medical officers through hands-on training in specialised care, an approach that will enable Zanzibar to eventually offer advanced services at primary, district, regional and referral levels.
Dr Amour further noted that Zanzibar has requested additional Nigerian specialists, including those in emergency medicine, anaesthesia, ophthalmology and specialist nursing, as well as trainers for local health colleges to help produce professionals who meet World Health Organisation standards.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Anca Onocu, reaffirmed her government’s commitment to supporting Zanzibar, noting that the mission aligns with NTAC’s broader programme of deploying health professionals to nations such as Angola, Grenada, Ethiopia, Somalia, Jamaica and Trinidad.
She assured that Nigeria will increase the number of experts in the next cohort, particularly in midwifery, critical care and specialist physician roles, to address gaps that were not fully covered in the initial deployment.
Ms Onocu also applauded both the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for their shared vision and commitment to strengthening health systems.
She said the collaboration is contributing to the major improvements now seen in Tanzania’s health sector.
