Tanzania has renewed its call for stronger regional cooperation to eliminate malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), saying cross-border collaboration is essential in tackling diseases that continue to affect millions across Africa.
Speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, during a special meeting held alongside the 79th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization, Tanzania’s Minister of Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa, said infectious diseases remain a shared threat that cannot be controlled by individual countries acting alone.
He said border communities remain highly vulnerable due to constant movement of people, limited access to health services, and delays in diagnosis and treatment.
These factors, he noted, continue to drive transmission of malaria and NTDs in cross-border areas where health systems are closely interconnected.
The Minister highlighted that Africa carries a heavy burden of NTDs, accounting for nearly 40 percent of global cases.
He said the situation is worsened by population mobility, weak health infrastructure in remote areas, and gaps in sharing disease information between neighbouring countries.
Tanzania, he said, has continued to strengthen its health system by integrating NTD services into primary healthcare, making prevention, diagnosis, and treatment more accessible at community level.
This approach is aimed at ensuring early detection and reducing complications caused by neglected diseases.
He also stressed that investing in the fight against NTDs delivers strong economic returns, noting that every dollar invested can generate up to 25 dollars through improved productivity, reduced treatment costs, and stronger community health systems.
During the meeting, Tanzania endorsed an improved memorandum of understanding to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing NTDs.
The agreement focuses on coordinated disease control, timely sharing of health data, and joint use of technical expertise and resources among countries.
The Minister further said Tanzania is ready to deepen cooperation with regional and international partners, while emphasizing that external support should strengthen national systems rather than replace them.
He reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to lead regional efforts, saying stronger collaboration will turn borders into bridges of cooperation and help ensure that malaria and NTDs are eliminated and become diseases of the past in Africa.
