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Tanzania on the right track in curbing lifestyle diseases, says WHO boss

A section of speakers and guests at the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. Photo | Ericky Boniphace 

What you need to know:

World Health Organisation(WHO) representative to Tanzania Dr Adiele Onyeze said Tanzania stands a chance to make a difference given the rising political commitment to tackle the diseases around the world,  the growing campaign on Universal Health Coverage and the guiding targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).


Dar es Salaam The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Tanzania Dr Adiele Onyeze on Thursday June 28 said there are opportunities to curb Non Communicable Diseases now more than ever before as he joined government officials and experts in other sectors at the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum. 

Dr Onyeze said Tanzania stands a chance to make a difference given the rising political commitment to tackle the diseases around the world,  the growing campaign on Universal Health Coverage and the guiding targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

Currently, over 35 percent of the deaths occurring in Tanzania are attributed to Non Communicable Diseases, a figure that presents a great challenge to the individual and national economy. 

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"Progress in curbing these diseases is slow," noted Dr Onyeze. This was echoed by the Minister of Health,  Community Development,  Gender,  Elderly and Children, Ummy Mwalimu who called on individuals to take responsibility in living lives that protect them from the risk of NCDs. 

The Minister said Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum has come at a time when the government is investing in boosting it's human resource capacity,  yet more people are dying due to NCDs. 

"To build an industrialized economy we need healthy people. It's now time to invest in tackling the NCDs to help build the economy, " she said.

The government,  she noted,  has invested in treatment but that is not the goal when it comes to NCDs.  "We now have to focus all effort on prevention."


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