Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (Health), Prof. Tumaini Nagu, has urged health officials across Tanzania Mainland to prioritise timely data reporting, innovation, and collaboration in addressing public health challenges, as she officially closed the 2025 Annual Health and Environmental Sanitation Review Meeting.
The high-level forum, which brought together regional and council health management teams from across the country, concluded on July 5 at the Rock City Mall in Mwanza after four days of intense evaluation, knowledge-sharing, and strategic planning.
It aimed to assess progress in the delivery of health services and environmental sanitation, highlight areas of excellence, address persistent gaps, and identify new approaches to improve community well-being.
“We must translate the knowledge and insights gained from this forum into action,” said Prof. Nagu. “Let us commit to delivering timely and accurate health information to the public and speak up on challenges so they can be addressed early, especially to curb the spread of outbreak diseases.”he added
Prof. Nagu said the meeting’s outcomes should guide health officers in implementing practical and preventive measures that build community resilience.
She further emphasised the need to uphold professionalism and accountability while fostering innovative approaches that produce measurable impact.
The annual gathering held under the theme “Implementation of Health and Environmental Sanitation Interventions as a Foundation for Sustainable Disease Prevention and Community Well-being” provided a platform for regional and council officials to reflect on the past year’s performance and share effective practices.
Mwanza Regional Medical Officer, Dr. Jesca Lebba, welcomed the opportunity to host the national meeting and used the occasion to advocate for stronger collaboration among medical officers and public health teams in the field.
“We must take what we’ve learned here back to our councils,” Dr. Lebba said. “When we work together and support one another, we are more effective in delivering public health and environmental sanitation interventions.”he added
She added that strategic partnerships and community-driven efforts were essential to overcoming health-related challenges, particularly in underserved areas.
Seleman Yondu, the national coordinator of the review meeting, reminded participants of their duty to uphold health sector regulations, remain innovative, and maintain integrity in service delivery.
“Commitment, creativity, and compliance with established guidelines are key if we are to achieve lasting results,” he said.
“This platform is not just about reviewing numbers it’s about transforming those numbers into lives saved and communities protected.”he added
The meeting marked a critical milestone in Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the health system at the grassroots level, reinforcing the government’s broader agenda of ensuring universal access to quality health and sanitation services.