Dr. Grace Magembe, Tanzania’s newly appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) faces a daunting task as she steps into the new role after President Samia Suluhu Hassan immediately tasked her with leading the nation’s response and management of outbreaks by prioritizing the ongoing Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region.
A recent surprise reshuffle at the Ministry of Health saw the removal from office of Prof. Tumaini Nagu as Chief Medical Officer and the transfer of the Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr. John Jingu.
Also read: Suspected Marburg Virus Cases Have Tested Negative, says Tanzania
The change of guard came amidst growing scrutiny over the government’s handling of the suspected MVD outbreak. The Ministry of Health initially reported that all suspected cases had tested negative for the virus, a claim that was met with skepticism from experts and the public.
Dr. Elizabeth Benedict Sanga, a Medical Doctor and the Shadow Minister of Health for the ACT Wazalendo opposition party, a vocal critic, demanded greater transparency from the Ministry regarding the suspected Marburg outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had issued an alert on January 13th, warning of a suspected outbreak that reportedly claimed eight lives.
After days of speculation, President Samia on Monday formally declared an outbreak of the Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During the swearing in ceremony of the judges that took place in Dodoma today, the president hinted on the reasons behind the shake up at the Ministry of Health, emphasizing on the gravity of the Chief Medical Officer role in times of outbreaks.
The president signaled that the successful containment of the outbreak is not just a public health issue, but also a matter of national security and economic stability. Dr. Magembe and her team are tasked with preventing the outbreak from escalating into a tougher health crisis that could have severe consequences for Tanzania.
“This is a huge task, huge indeed,” President Hassan emphasized, urging Dr. Magembe to “save this country from being subject to global alerts and all matters that might restrict travel to this country.”
Who is Dr. Magembe?
Prior to her appointment as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Magembe served as the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments). She brings a wealth of experience to the new role, having previously served as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health.
She had a stint as Consultant Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health at WHO Geneva. Dr. Magembe has also held positions as Assistant Administrative Secretary for Health and Social Welfare, Municipal Medical Officer of Health, and Program Manager for Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child Health at Amref Health Africa – Tanzania. She is an active member of the Medical Women Association of Tanzania and the Medical Association of Tanzania.”
High-Risk Region
The Kagera region, where she is expected to tackle Marburg, is bordering several countries, has a history of MVD outbreaks. The 2023 outbreak highlighted the region’s vulnerability to such outbreaks.
WHO Warning
The WHO has warned of further cases as surveillance efforts intensify, expressing deep concern about the potential for regional and international spread due to high human mobility in the region.
MVD is a highly contagious and often fatal hemorrhagic fever characterized by high fever, headache, muscle aches, and severe bleeding.
