Africa-Press – Tanzania. The Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Dr John Nkengasong has advised Tanzania to embrace strategies that will boost Africa’s mission to deal with challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking virtually during the 8th Tanzania Health Summit (THS) in Dodoma Dr Nkengasong said “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the need for us all to build resilient systems, to adapt them, so that they can cope with the 21st Century trend,”
Over 600 heath stakeholders; including policymakers, healthcare investors, scientists, hospital owners as well as local and International Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are in the capital city for THS; with focus on the future of Tanzania’s healthcare, inspired by the theme ‘Leaving No One Behind 2021-2026: Analyzing the promise, and tracking the progress’.
Speaking during the launching of the summit, Dr Nkengasong delivered a speech titled: The position of Africa in the global COVID-19 response architecture, emphasizing the need for African countries to invest in their own public health systems, build respectful partnerships both with the local partners, the private sector and international actors in a way that leads to an action-oriented partnership.
“We therefore invite and encourage the Tanzania to embrace this mission,” he said, further highlighting the need for countries to develop and strengthen national public health institutes, expand local vaccine manufacturing capacity, diagnostics and therapeutics, to reinforce and strengthen the development of public health workforce.
For his part, Chief Medical Officer Dr Aifelo Sichwale called upon the summit to consider discussing topical issues that are in line with the country’s strategic health plans including the universal health coverage.
On COVID-19, the official said healthcare experts should focus on sensitizing vaccine uptake to conquer the pandemic’s chain saying this was the only way the country was to win the war against the deadly virus.
“So far evidence has shown that vaccines has played a key role in saving lives, therefore we need to at the forefront of educating our people to get vaccinated,” he added.
President of the Tanzania Health Summit Dr Omary Chillo said in the eight years of its existence the summit has offered great advice and direction to the welfare of the health sector in the country adding that it has been a platform where experts meet to discuss topical issues of national importance.
