Tanzania and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have strengthened their cooperation aimed at improving community health services across Africa, focusing on accelerating investment in primary healthcare as a key pillar for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The discussions, held in Addis Ababa, brought together health experts from Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and Africa CDC.
They focused on strengthening Community Health Worker (CHW) systems, expanding the use of digital health technologies, and exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve health service delivery at the community level.
The meeting also addressed ways to improve training and supervision of health workers, strengthen health information systems, and increase domestic financing to ensure community health programmes remain sustainable and effective in the long term.
Speaking on June 18, 2026, Africa CDC Head of Community Health, Dr. Fidele Ngabo Gaga, said Tanzania continues to show strong leadership in advancing community health and primary healthcare reforms.
He said Tanzania’s approach aligns with Africa’s wider goal of ensuring that all citizens, especially those in rural and hard-to-reach areas, can access quality healthcare services close to where they live.
Dr. Ngabo Gaga also commended the leadership of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, noting her role as African Union Champion for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, which has helped elevate community health as a priority across the continent.
He added that the partnership supports the African Union’s plan to deploy at least two million Community Health Workers across Africa by 2030, a step expected to significantly improve access to basic healthcare services and strengthen national health systems.
Experts at the meeting said Community Health Workers remain a vital link in delivering preventive healthcare, maternal and child health services, health education, and early disease detection at grassroots level.
They further emphasized the importance of digital health solutions, noting that tools such as mobile health platforms and electronic health records can improve efficiency, data management, and decision-making in healthcare systems.
On capacity building, participants agreed that continuous training and strong supervision are essential to ensure community health workers provide high-quality services and adapt to emerging health needs.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of increasing domestic investment in community health programmes to reduce dependency on external funding and ensure long-term sustainability.
Tanzania’s delegation was led by the Acting Director of the Preventive Services Division, Dr. Otilia Gowelle, alongside officials from the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG).
Both sides agreed that stronger collaboration between African countries and institutions is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage and building resilient health systems capable of responding to both routine and emergency health challenges.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation between Tanzania and Africa CDC in strengthening people-centred, innovative, and sustainable community health systems across Africa.
