Tanzania has successfully achieved a 95% vaccination coverage, marking a significant milestone in its drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Health Minister Jenista Mhagama shared this achievement during a visit to Kagera Region, where she inspected efforts to build a modern hospital with a research center aimed at combating contagious diseases.
The Kagera Region, bordering four East African nations, has faced recurring disease outbreaks, including Ebola, Marburg, cholera, and Covid-19, leading to the loss of lives. The region’s health officials have been actively monitoring these outbreaks, with recent cholera cases resulting in fatalities in late November.
Dr. Samwel Laizer, Kagera’s Regional Medical Officer, stressed the importance of strengthening health worker capabilities to better manage and respond to such epidemics. The government is also working to enhance disease surveillance to protect the population.
Simultaneously, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised alarms over a global surge in measles cases, with over 10 million reported infections in 2023. The WHO and the CDC have called for urgent efforts to expand vaccination coverage, as measles continues to be one of the most contagious diseases, requiring at least 95% vaccination coverage to prevent widespread outbreaks. The CDC and WHO leaders emphasized the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding public health worldwide.