Tanzania has reinforced its call for sustainable health financing and local manufacturing as central pillars in building Africa’s resilience against public health emergencies.
Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango delivered the message in New York during the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), convened on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
He stressed that Africa must reduce its reliance on external aid by mobilizing domestic resources and developing innovative financing solutions.
“African governments must take the lead in shaping the continent’s health priorities,” he said, adding that regional cooperation is essential to ensure a coordinated response to health threats.
Dr. Mpango also pointed to Tanzania’s domestic actions as proof of its commitment to strengthening public health systems.
The country has invested in infectious disease treatment units, improved disease surveillance, and established rapid response teams.
He said lessons from recent outbreaks, including Marburg, have highlighted the urgency of building stronger preparedness mechanisms.
The Vice President further underscored the importance of self-reliance through domestic production of diagnostics, medicines, and essential health products.
He said Tanzania supports investment in local industries, continent-wide regulatory frameworks, and technology transfer partnerships to boost Africa’s ability to respond to current and future challenges.
Beyond emergency preparedness, Tanzania has expanded health infrastructure and workforce development to ensure that healthcare delivery is both resilient and sustainable.
According to Dr. Mpango, such measures not only safeguard the wellbeing of Tanzanians but also contribute to Africa’s collective health security.
The Africa CDC meeting was held under the theme “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Domestic Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness.”
Leaders discussed ways to advance Africa-led solutions to safeguard the continent’s health sovereignty in the face of emerging threats.