Dar es Salaam – The Government of Tanzania has issued a passionate call to its citizens living abroad, urging them to contribute their expertise and resources to the ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s health sector.
The appeal was made during a virtual meeting on March 16, 2026, which brought together members of the Tanzanian diaspora in the United Kingdom and other countries.
Dr Seif Shekalaghe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, who led the government delegation, emphasised the critical role that the diaspora can play in improving the quality of healthcare in the country, particularly in the provision of specialised and expert medical services.
He noted that the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for the diaspora to invest in the health sector and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills.
The meeting, opened by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Florence Simazi, served as a platform to update the diaspora on progress in implementing the government’s ‘Health for All’ agenda.
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It also provided an opportunity for the diaspora to share their ideas and experiences and explore concrete ways they can contribute to the development of the health sector.
The discussions highlighted the existing strong ties between Tanzania and the United Kingdom in the health sector. The two countries have signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that have paved the way for joint projects and programmes in areas such as health professional training, research, and service delivery.
The virtual meeting was a continuation of these collaborative efforts, organised in partnership with the Tanzanian Embassy in the UK.
Participants in the meeting reached several important resolutions, including a commitment to strengthening cooperation in high-impact areas, expanding training and capacity-building programmes for health professionals, and promoting investment in the local manufacturing of health products.
They also underscored the importance of deepening partnerships between health institutions in Tanzania and the UK.
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Prof Mohammed Janabi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, who also participated in the meeting, commended the government’s initiative to engage the diaspora.
He stressed the importance of the diaspora’s active involvement in improving primary healthcare services and called for the full implementation of the resolutions passed during the meeting to ensure that they translate into tangible outcomes.
The meeting was also attended by other high-ranking officials, including the Tanzanian Ambassador to the UK, Mbelwa Kairuki, and the heads of key health institutions such as the Medical Stores Department (MSD), the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).
Their presence underscored the government’s commitment to a multi-sectoral approach to health sector development.
Dr Shekalaghe is also scheduled to attend the Global Health Summit in the UK, where he will have the opportunity to engage with a wider range of global health stakeholders and to further promote Tanzania’s health sector priorities on the international stage.
