Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE High Commissioner of Canada to Tanzania, Pamela O’Donnel, has argued that for the country to achieve better health services it was crucial to focus on promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls to have voices in decision making.
She made the remarks over the weekend when she was opening the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU), Convocation that was held at the university premises in Dar es Salaam
The theme of the Convocation was ‘Building a Healthier World through Local and Global Partnership’
She said many women and girls in Tanzania have less control over decision making over their bodies, exposing them to violence, and harmful practices adding that they face high risk of unintended pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections.
Ambassador O’Donnel said gender inequality also poses barriers for women and girls to access health information and critical service including restrictions on mobility, lack of decision making autonomy, limited access to finances and lower literacy rates.
She said Canada has made a strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women adding that they continue to champion the health and rights of women and girls.
“As part of this work in Tanzania Canada has worked closely with government and other partners on improving the health and wellbeing of the poorest and most vulnerable by strengthening national systems to deliver equitable and quality adolescent and gender responsive health services,” she said
The coordinator of the Convocation Dr Leonard Malasa said HKMU is a great family with so far nearly 3,000 health professionals have graduated from the university and they are making great impact in the country and abroad.
“We are in great family indeed in this regards we have been working closely with the university management to ensure that we bring to gather these beautiful minds through establishment of the alumni association,” he said
He said recently they established an online system in which all the alumni can register and create their accounts and will be able to update their information from time to time.
DrMalasa said the system will create connection amongst the alumni and between alumni and the university adding that the system will be a platform for alumni to provide feedback and advice for improving the university.
He added that it is the responsibility of everyone to participate in building a healthier word adding that that cannot happen if they are in isolation.
“It can only happen if we work in collaboration and partnership especially in research, innovation and technology is fundamental in achieving health and wellbeing,” he said
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