Govt reaffirms partnership with stakeholders to tackle climate change impacts

DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to working with development partners to strengthen sustainable systems addressing the effects of climate change, particularly in the health sector.

The Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Health, Rahibu Mashombo, made the statement in Dar es Salaam on behalf of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, during a workshop organised by the Choice Tanzania Project under the Aga Khan Health Services Tanzania (AKHST).

The session focused on developing solutions that link climate change, gender equality and mental health for improved national wellbeing. Mr Mashombo said the government is reinforcing strategies through the Choice Project to mitigate the growing health impacts caused by changing weather patterns.

“The world is currently facing the serious challenge of climate change. Its effects disrupt the environment, trigger new diseases and worsen existing ones. Through this initiative, we are building systems to safeguard the nation,” he said.

He added that the government continues to invest in the health sector by increasing the budget for medicines, medical equipment and health infrastructure, while also implementing the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme to ensure access for all citizens, including low-income groups.

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The Chief Advisor of the Choice Tanzania Project and Obstetrician-Gynaecologist at Aga Khan Hospital, Dr Muzdalifat Abeid, said Tanzania is among five countries implementing the project alongside Kenya, Ghana and Pakistan.

She said the initiative, which began in 2023 and concludes later this year, seeks to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Dr Abeid noted that expert teams have been established to monitor progress, address challenges and provide practical recommendations.

She added that health workers have received training on gender and mental health issues, improving their ability to respond effectively.

“One key success has been raising awareness of mental health among healthcare providers and the public. Awareness was very low, but through training, health workers are now better equipped to manage mental health challenges,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, one of the project’s key supporters, praised Tanzania’s progress in improving health indicators, especially reducing maternal and child mortality despite challenges from climate change and malnutrition.

“Child stunting remains a concern, but Tanzania stands out as a model for countries using multi-sectoral approaches to address such challenges,” he observed.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from the health, environment and gender sectors, who shared strategies to enhance collaboration and strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change.