AfricaPress-Tanzania: MINISTRY of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children has denied social media reports that there are many corona patients in Mwanza hospitals.
Permanent Secretary Prof Mabula Mchembe said that his tour of Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure Referral Regional Hospital showed that there were no patients specifically suffering from COVID-19.
He urged the public to ignore such rumours that could lead to fear and panic. Prof Mchembe, however, called upon the public to continue taking precautionary measures against the pandemic, noting that the government has no plans to vaccinate its people against the novel virus.
“It is because influenzarelated cases happen periodically… You can vaccinate today but experience the same situation a day after. My advice to Tanzanians is to go for regular health check-ups and receive early treatment in case of any infection,” he said.
Bugando Medical Centre Deputy Director Dr Fabian Massaga urged Tanzanians to continue ignoring the rumours because they are useless to the public.
He reiterated that the facility had no corona patient, stressing that: “Tanzanians should build a culture of going for regular health checkups to avoid any possible health complication. Our health facility is well equipped with professional health experts, medicines and medical devices to provide effective and timely treatments to the public.”
Last month, President John Magufuli warned the Ministry of Health against rushing to acquiring vaccines for the Covid-19 pandemic without verifying their efficacy.
He also ruled out government’s imposition of locking down on the country, thus allowing people to continue with their daily economic activities.
The President said any decision to adopt Covid-19 vaccine should not be taken lightly, stressing that: “Not every vaccine is beneficial to our nation, the ministry should be extra careful on this issue to avoid leading the county into trouble. Tanzanians should stand firm and stop being guinea pigs for such vaccines because they may face irreparable consequences to the county.”
