Tanzania launches a new campaign to combat non-communicable diseases

MWANZA: THE Minister for Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has issued specific instructions to citizens and health sector stakeholders to wake up and fight non-communicable diseases without shame in order to protect the Tanzanian community.

Minister Mchengerwa made the statement during the launch of the “Jua namba yako” campaign, emphasizing that if citizens identify their numbers early, they will be able to be the first guardians of their health.

“This campaign is an important and strategic step in the fight against non-communicable diseases, the main goal is to prevent and detect diseases early before they cause serious harm to the citizens,” said Mchengerwa.

Mr Mchengerwa has noted that the government aims to build a health system that precedes the patient instead of waiting for the disease to develop, a step that will help build a better tomorrow for citizens with good health.

In ensuring that no citizen is left behind, the Minister said that the campaign has taken into account all social groups without discrimination, including gender, age, area of residence, level of education, and race.

In addition, he has urged citizens to take effective measures by conducting regular health checks, emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure, sugar levels, and body weight to protect themselves from non-communicable diseases.

On the part of health professionals, Mohamed Mchengerwa has directed the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Grace Magembe, and other experts to collaborate with the media to continue providing comprehensive education to the community.

Speaking about hepatitis, the Minister said efforts are being made to find resources through development partners to expand testing, treatment and vaccination services to citizens, while quoting the statement of the Father of the Nation Julius Nyerere that development plans require the cooperation of stakeholders to achieve their rapid implementation.

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He stressed that citizens should not only be recipients of services but active participants by asking, understanding, and knowing their health status when they arrive at service delivery centers.

Through the “Jua namba yako”Campaign, the government aims to enable citizens to understand their health status and take early action, to control and reduce the effects of non-communicable diseases in the country