Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health has held talks with the United States Embassy in Tanzania on the implementation of a health-sector co-operation agreement between Tanzania and the US, valued at around $3.1bn, reports allAfrica.
Under discussion were how the planned investment and co-operation could align with Zanzibar government priorities and deliver tangible improvements in healthcare services.
Permanent Secretary of the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Dr Mngereza Mzee Miraji, said the meeting marked an important step towards developing a clear implementation plan for the agreement.
Zanzibar would seek to link opportunities arising from the co-operation with significant investments already being made by the its government in the health sector over the past five years – and with more planned for the sector over the next five years, he added.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that international support complements the government’s own plans so that available resources are used efficiently and contribute to ongoing efforts to improve healthcare.
Key areas discussed at the meeting included human resources, laboratory services and health information systems.
Head of the Co-operation Office at the US Embassy in Tanzania, Jessica Greene, said the partnership would draw on American experience and expertise to support the strengthening of Zanzibar’s health systems.
The co-operation, she noted, would be guided by the needs and priorities identified by the Zanzibar health ministry rather than by imposing external priorities.
Close co-operation between the two will help ensure that the agreed areas “are addressed systematically and in line with the objectives set out in the agreement”, she said.
For Zanzibar, the partnership is expected to complement government investment by expanding access to expertise, technology and resources in critical areas of healthcare.
AllAfrica article – Tanzania: Zanzibar, Us Discuss 8.2tri/ – Health Deal (Open access)
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