Tanzania directs stakeholders of health sector to invest in food industry

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has directed stakeholders of health sector to collaborate with the government in improve nutrition services by investing in the food fortification machines operating in the country.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam during a brief handover of a vehicle provided by the non-governmental organization SANKU, the Minister of Health, Jenista Mhagama, said the vehicle is for the implementation of the management and monitoring of the food fortification program in the country.

“We need to collaborate in improving the quality of nutrition, we really need machines to mix nutrients into food as well as cooperation in obtaining equipment that will help achieve national goals, including transportation services,” Mhagama stressed.

Mhagama said to have a mature nation with mental continuity and the quality of children, they felt it was better for children to eat food and for pregnant women to use good nutrition to reduce maternal deaths.

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He said the government continues to improve nutrition services in the country and now Tanzania has the first factory for the production of nutrients.

“We have made history by having the first factory to produce nutritional supplements. Now we are producing them here, enabling our children to get good nutrition, we will be investing in the development of the nation as a whole,” he explained.

For his part, the Assistant Director of Nutrition Services, Neema Joshua, said the government has issued guidelines to stop the program to add nutrients to flour, oil, and salt.

And the Director of Government Relations from SANKU, Gwao Omar, said they are currently providing nutritional services to 26 regions in mainland Tanzania and 160 councils and the goal is to continue providing cooperation in technology monitoring.