The new week starts tomorrow. Let’s catch up for a roundup of Tanzania’s Medical Sector Headlines of the Week (03-10 December 2023). We kick off this roundup with good news from the medical research field:
NIMR Scientist Awarded UNESCO-TWAS Seed To Study TB
In a major boost for Tanzania’s medical research, Dr. Bariki Mtafya, a scientist at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and Head of Lab Sciences at the institute has been awarded a prestigious seed grant by the UNESCO-TWAS program, in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, aims to empower promising young scientists in Africa.
Dr. Mtafya’s project, titled “Early detection and characterization of drug resistant tuberculosis to inform clinical management of the patients treatment in routine healthcare settings,” will focus on developing innovative methods for early detection and characterization of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). This research is crucial, as drug-resistant TB poses a major threat to global health, and early diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for controlling its spread.
Then off to the continent news,
Africa in Dire Need of Epidemiologists, says Africa CDC Chief
Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, delivered a powerful opening address at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa, highlighting the continent’s critical need for more epidemiologists.
“Less than 10% of African countries are able to respond to a major outbreak with a skilled health workforce,” Kaseya stressed. “Africa requires 6,000 field epidemiologists, yet, we currently only have 1,900.
Additionally, the continent needs 25,000 frontline epidemiologists, but we presently have just 5,000.”
More via: https://medicopress.media/africa-unveils-ai-driven-platform-to-boost-healthcare/
And,
Universal Health Insurance in Tanzania: President Signs Landmark Bill into Law
In a move that could revolutionize healthcare access in Tanzania, the country’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has signed the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) Bill into law. This historic development, which comes after the Bill was passed by Parliament on November 1st, 2023, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all Tanzanians.
With the president’s signature, the Ministry of Health can now begin formulating regulations and implementing the UHI program. This program aims to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their financial status, has access to quality healthcare services.
That’s it for now, and don’t forget to visit our web for more stories, analyses and key developments in medical science and public health. See you soon….
