UNITED KINGDOM: THE United Kingdom (UK) has significantly expanded its support for Tanzania in the education and health sectors, aiming to foster opportunities and strengthen bilateral ties.
Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Mbelwa Kairuki, said that these efforts have already shown remarkable results, including an increase in Tanzanians accessing scholarships and enhanced collaboration in healthcare.
In the education sector, Mr Kairuki said the High Commission has organised various events to promote scholarship opportunities for Tanzanian students to study in the UK.
“A key highlight was a stakeholders’ forum on February 9, 2024, which brought together representatives from renowned scholarship programmes such as Chevening, Commonwealth and Mastercard Foundation, alongside universities including Oxford, Harper Adams and Edinburgh. The event was followed online by over 10,000 Tanzanians,” he said.
Additionally, he said, specialised workshops focusing on scholarships from Commonwealth, Oxford University and the University of Manchester were held throughout the year.
He further said the Tanzania’s High Commission has also facilitated collaborations between Tanzanian institutions and UK universities, including linking the Arusha Institute of Accountancy with the London School of Economics to explore areas of mutual interest.
ALSO READ: Strengthening Tanzania-Russia ties: Education, culture and trade
These efforts have led to a remarkable increase in the number of Tanzanians applying for UK scholarships, rising from 500 in 2022 to 1,300 in 2023, Mr Kairuki explained.
He said that partnerships with institutions such as Imperial College London have also been established to develop programmes in fields like medicine, engineering and more, in collaboration with higher learning institutions such as Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the University of Dar es Salaam and the State University of Zanzibar.
In the health sector, the High Commissioner said that High Commission has been instrumental in fostering cooperation between the two nations. He said in January this year, the Commission organised a forum connecting Tanzanian diaspora healthcare professionals in the UK and Ireland with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health to share expertise and explore opportunities for collaboration.
“A three-year capacity-building programme has been initiated to train Tanzanian health graduates in the UK, providing hands-on experience in advanced healthcare systems,” he said.
“Discussions with King’s College Hospital and Afriexim Bank have also paved the way for the establishment of an African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Tanzania,” Mr Kairuki added.
In March 2024, Mr Kairuki said the UK-Africa Health Summit further strengthened partnerships, while the September visit by Princess Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, highlighted Tanzania’s progress in tackling trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases.
He said the UK has also increased its funding for Tanzania’s health sector by 27 million Euros in 2024. Mr Kairuki said teams of UK medical professionals have provided training at Muhimbili National Hospital and Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar and Tanzanian researchers are now preparing proposals for funding from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
“These initiatives reflect the UK’s commitment to supporting Tanzania’s development through education and health,” he said.
“The partnerships we have fostered are not only enhancing opportunities for Tanzanians but also strengthening the bond between our two nations.”
He said the initiatives underscore the UK’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth and development in Tanzania, setting a strong foundation for future collaborations.
