Zanzibar Afya Week 2025: Advancing health and innovation

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR made history this May with the launch and successful completion of its first-ever Zanzibar Afya Week 2025, a nationwide health-focused initiative that not only showcased major achievements in the health sector but also charted a bold path forward for healthcare innovation, public health awareness and medical tourism.

Launched on May 4 and concluded on May 10, the event drew the participation of government leaders, healthcare professionals, international stakeholders and thousands of citizens across Unguja, Pemba and Dar es Salaam.

The initiative was officially opened by the First Lady of Zanzibar and Patron of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), Mama Maryam Mwinyi, who praised the sector’s progress and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accessible, inclusive and highquality healthcare for all.

“We are proud of the strides made in this sector, from building hospitals and introducing digital systems to reducing maternal mortality,” she said.

“Good health is the foundation of sustainable development.” Mama Maryam highlighted the construction of regional and district hospitals, policy reforms and the digital health system that now allows patients to access services without paperwork.

These achievements, she said, position Zanzibar as a model for health sector development in the region.

Zanzibar Minister for Health Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, speaking at the launch and during various sessions of Afya Week, emphasised that the event served multiple purposes: increasing public health awareness through education and free screenings, enhancing health tourism, promoting publicprivate partnerships and driving innovation in service delivery.

“This is not just a celebration of past achievements,” Minister Mazrui said. “It’s a platform to shape the future of health in Zanzibar through collaboration and investment.”

He revealed that the week included more than just symbolic ceremonies. It featured a health walk, mobile clinics, exhibitions of modern health technologies and technical discussions on telemedicine and digital health.

Events were hosted in Pemba, Unguja and Dar es Salaam to ensure broad national participation and regional outreach.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Second Vice-President of Zanzibar, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, reaffirmed the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and services.

On behalf of President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, he praised the construction of new hospitals, including the Lumumba Regional Hospital and the upcoming referral hospital in Binguni and the equipping of facilities with modern tools and consistent medicine supplies.

“We’ve also expanded services such as dialysis and maternal care, while improving working conditions and building housing for doctors,” he said.

The Vice-President also urged health professionals to embrace innovation and technology, underscoring the government’s aim to not only treat but to transform lives.

Plans to train more specialist doctors are underway to reduce dependence on foreign treatment and bolster medical self-reliance.

As a key stakeholder, Mama Maryam Mwinyi used the week to spotlight the Tumaini Menstrual Kit Initiative, which has reached over 8,600 adolescent girls in Unguja and Pemba.

By providing washable sanitary pads and menstrual health education, the programme helps girls stay in school and build confidence.

Three new health initiatives were launched during the week: Maternal and Child Health Programme, Nutrition for All and the Shehia Health Programme, each tailored to address grassroots health challenges and improve community-based healthcare.

The response from the public and health professionals was overwhelming. According to Dr Mngereza Miraji, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, over 4,800 health professionals attended various symposiums and technical forums and more than 1,900 leaders and workers received specialised training. In just the first three days of the event, 1,264 citizens received free medical services.

“These numbers reflect not only the need but also the trust the public has in our evolving healthcare system,” Dr Mngereza said. “Afya Week exceeded expectations in terms of participation and output.”

Zanzibar Afya Week 2025 has set a precedent. It aligns with the government’s Zanzibar Development Vision 2050 and the Health Strategic Plan III, aiming to transform the archipelago into a regional health hub.

The theme, “Advancing Health, Innovation and Wellness in Zanzibar,” underscores a long-term vision of sustainability, equity and global relevance. “This will not be a onetime event,” Minister Mazrui confirmed. “Afya Week will now be an annual platform for education, innovation and action.”

As the curtains closed on this year’s Afya Week, one message was clear: Zanzibar is not merely reforming its health sector, it is revolutionising it, with its people at the centre of every plan and policy.