United Republic of Tanzania News

The final meeting of the EU/ACP/WHO Renewed Partnership on Strengthening Pharmaceutical System and Access to Quality Essential Medicines in 15 countries[1] was successfully concluded with recommendations and way forward to sustain the gains and further strengthen the pharmaceutical system in countries. Dr. Ghirmay Andemichael, the Public Health Advisor for Zanzibar presented the closing remarks on behalf of the WHO Representative for Tanzania; Dr. Matthieu Kamwa. In the remarks he urged participants to continue networking for sharing of experiences and best practices and incorporate the recommendations and way forward in their strategic and annual plans of various sectors as necessary.

Schistosomiasis also known as Bilharzia is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms. Transmission occurs when people suffering from schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with their excreta containing parasite eggs, which hatch in water. The larval forms of the parasite – released by freshwater snails – penetrate the skin during contact with infested water. In the body, the larvae develop into adult worms that can cause progressive damage to organs.

The government of Zanzibar recently endorsed tobacco control regulations in line with the Public and Environmental Health Act on 2012. These regulations are aligned to the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The WHO FCTC is the world’s most powerful tool to tackle the escalating epidemic of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke and their negative impact on health, social and economic development. The FCTC sets out strategies that will lead to tobacco demand reduction and supply reduction while at the same time providing for international cooperation and monitoring of trends in the tobacco epidemic. These measures aim at reducing tobacco use while at the same time protecting non-smokers from second hand smoke.

“Building resilience, strengthening global health security!” was the theme during the historical launch of the Tanzania National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). The journey towards the NAPHS started after completion of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in February 2016. This year, Tanzania made giant strides in strengthening the implementation of IHR core capacities.

The government of Tanzania is battling an outbreak of cholera that has since August 2015 affected more than 26,000 people and claimed 410 lives. Ending the outbreak and preventing its spread beyond Tanzania's borders is a high priority for WHO. To that end, WHO and partners support a well-coordinated multisectoral response through the National Cholera Task Force which plans, coordinates and support subnational authorities.

The United Republic of Tanzania is battling an outbreak of Cholera that has since August 2015 affected 26,046 people and claimed 410 lives. Ending the outbreak and preventing its spread beyond Tanzania's borders is a high priority for WHO. To that end, WHO and partners support a well-coordinated multisectoral response through the National Cholera Task Force which plans, coordinates and support subnational authorities.

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. In the event of a polio outbreak, it is important that all countries, in particular those with frequent travel and contacts with the affected countries and areas, strengthen surveillance for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases in order to rapidly detect any new virus importation and to facilitate a rapid response.

In today’s connected world, health insecurity is a global issue. We must all protect ourselves, and each other, from threats like infectious diseases, chemical, and radiological events. On hundred and ninety six countries including Tanzania have agreed to work together to prevent and respond to public health crises, in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR (2005)).

The World Health Organization Country Representative in Tanzania, Dr. Matthieu Kamwa, recently visited Zanzibar as part of the continuing WHO support.