WHO warns of rising animal – to – human diseases

THE World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that over 70 per cent of epidemic diseases affecting the human population results from human-animal interruptions.

Acting WHO country representative Dr. Zabulon Yoti told health experts in Dar es Salaam on average an epidemic disease is reported in Africa at least every four days.

He cited for instance COVID-19, Ebola, Cholera and the recently Marburg in Tanzania’s northwestern region, Kagera calling for appropriate measures including training to public health practitioners.

Dr Yoti was speaking at a training organized by the WHO, in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ministry of Health. The training targeted at equipping the experts with knowledge to handle widespread diseases and outbreaks in the country.

“It is necessary to train and educate the society on health safety. Our aim is to save lives, each country needs health experts so that whenever an epidemic occurs, they can control it quickly … as we speak a special team is in Kagera working on containing Marburg,” Dr Yoti said.

said the training includes the Police, veterinarians, disaster experts from the Prime Minister’s office, the State House, doctors, health workers and other government institutions.

He explained that the training also involved key people other than health experts to forge collaborations in fighting the diseases.

“We want to see other than healthcare providers on the front line this can help especially during emergencies,” said Dr Janabi.