Tanzania sinks 96bn/- for combating epidemics

MWANZA: THE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has launched a global project to combat epidemics in the country worth 38.7m US dollars (approximately 96bn/-), which aims to improve health services for Tanzanians and stimulate the country’s development.

Speaking while launching the project in Mwanza, Dr Biteko has called on all ministries, Regional Administrations, and Local Governments (TAMISEMI) as well as institutions to implement priority activities in combating epidemics and health emergencies.

He stressed that ministries, institutions, and development partners are required to oversee the implementation of the investment and ensure that positive results are achieved as intended.

“All ministries, regional administrations and institutions, implement all priority activities in responding to these epidemics and other health emergencies according to your areas and ensure that not a single Shilling is lost or diverted from the intended goals,” he said.

For her part, the Deputy Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Policy, Parliament and Coordination, Ummy Nderiananga said the project is being implemented jointly by the government under the coordination of the Prime Minister’s Office through the health sector, as well as development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Pandemic Fund.

For her part, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, who is the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Grace Magembe, said the project will improve the response of health systems in responding to diseases such as Ebola, Monkey Fever Virus, Marburg, Zika, and other diseases caused by climate change.

Dr Magembe explained that effective implementation will enable rapid access to information about the presence or rumors of epidemics and thus act on that information.

She said that the availability of the funds will also enable the improvement of national and regional laboratories, as a way to obtain rapid and accurate information from citizens.

Speaking about the implementation of the plan, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar, Dr Salim Nassor Slim thanked national leaders for the steps taken to improve the health of citizens to have good health.