Duchess of Edinburgh begins official visit to Tanzania
What you need to know:
- This marks the first visit by a member of the UK Royal Family to Tanzania since the Duke of Cambridge's visit in 2018.
Dar es Salaam. The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, is embarking on a five-day official visit to Tanzania from September 16 to 20, 2024. This marks the first visit by a member of the UK Royal Family to Tanzania since the Duke of Cambridge's visit in 2018.
According to a statement from the British High Commission in Tanzania, the Duchess’s visit is designed to highlight and celebrate the collaborative efforts between the UK and Tanzania in the fields of health, agriculture, and women's empowerment.
Sophie is married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He is also the youngest sibling of King Charles III.
During her visit, the Duchess will tour Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha, engaging with various international organizations including Sightsavers, Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
In Dar es Salaam, Sophie will visit the Magomeni Health Centre, a facility funded by the UK that offers essential sexual health and family planning services. She will also attend a reception focused on UK-Tanzania health cooperation, where she is expected to reaffirm her commitment to eliminating trachoma across the Commonwealth by 2030.
Her itinerary includes a visit to Zanzibar, where she will observe efforts by the Ministry of Health, Uniting to Combat NTDs, and Unlimit Health in their fight against lymphatic filariasis (LF). The Duchess will also celebrate the administration of the 12 billionth Albendazole treatment for the disease.
In Arusha, the Duchess will help launch the UK's new horticulture export accelerator program, a collaborative initiative with the Tanzania Horticultural Association aimed at enhancing Tanzanian horticultural exports to the UK. Additionally, she will visit female farmers to explore their empowerment through science and entrepreneurship in agriculture and food systems, as well as the collaborative efforts between the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
Throughout her visit, the Duchess will meet with senior Tanzanian government officials, healthcare workers, and local communities.
British High Commissioner Marianne Young said the visit underscores the longstanding partnership between the UK and Tanzania in addressing global challenges and showcases their joint efforts in health, agriculture, and women's empowerment.
Country Director for Tanzania at Sightsavers Godwin Kabalika, highlighted the significance of the Duchess’s visit in raising awareness of NTDs and fostering global health collaborations to ensure no one is left behind.
