By Our Correspondent, ADDIS ABABA
Tanzania has joined other African countries at the 76th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, with the country expected to use the meeting to strengthen health cooperation and share approaches to improving healthcare delivery.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Grace Magembe, arrived in Addis Ababa on August 24, 2026, to join the Tanzanian delegation led by Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi.
The meeting is scheduled to take place from August 25 to 28, bringing together health leaders and stakeholders to discuss issues affecting health systems across the continent.
Dr Magembe was received in Addis Ababa by Tanzania’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Innocent Shiyo, alongside other Tanzanian officials based in the country.
Her participation is expected to extend beyond the main sessions, with the Permanent Secretary scheduled to attend several side meetings and other engagements focusing on health and international cooperation.
These engagements provide Tanzania with an opportunity to exchange experiences with other countries and examine approaches that could strengthen the delivery of health services to citizens.
Tanzania’s participation comes as African countries continue to face pressure to improve access to quality healthcare while responding to emerging health challenges and strengthening health systems.
A key area of Tanzania’s engagement is expected to be maternal, child and reproductive health, an area in which the country has continued to position itself as an active contributor to the continent’s health agenda.
The participation also comes against the backdrop of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s appointment as the African Union (AU) Champion for Maternal and Child Health.
The role places Tanzania within a broader continental effort to advance policies and interventions aimed at improving the health and survival of women and children.
For Tanzania, the Addis Ababa meeting therefore offers an opportunity not only to participate in regional health policy discussions but also to strengthen partnerships, share lessons from its own health programmes and identify approaches that can be adapted to improve services at home.
The value of such international engagements will ultimately depend on how knowledge, partnerships and commitments emerging from the meeting are translated into practical improvements in healthcare delivery for Tanzanian citizens.
