Tanzania is participating in the 158th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 2 to 7, 2026, as part of preparations for the 79th World Health Assembly scheduled for May 2026.
The country’s delegation is led by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grace Magembe, alongside Tanzania’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Dr. Abdallah Saleh Possi.
The delegation also includes senior health experts from the Ministry of Health and officials from the Tanzania Embassy in Geneva.
During the meeting, Tanzania is presenting its policy positions and experiences on key global health priorities, including preparedness for health emergencies, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, mental health services, immunisation programmes, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, universal health coverage, and the strengthening of primary health care. The country is also contributing to discussions on combating antimicrobial resistance.
In addition, Tanzania has submitted a proposed resolution on Smart Pharmacovigilance, which seeks to strengthen systems for monitoring the safety of medicines.
The proposal notes that a significant share of deaths linked to adverse drug reactions occur in developing countries, highlighting the need for more effective and technology-driven monitoring mechanisms.
On the sidelines of the Executive Board session, Dr. Magembe is expected to hold high-level engagements with key global health partners, including the Global Fund and UNITAID.
The discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation, mobilising funding for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV programmes, and advancing the local production of health commodities in Tanzania.
Tanzania’s participation in the meeting underscores its commitment to shaping global health policy while strengthening national health systems through strategic international partnerships.
