The coronavirus disease has brought the world to its knees by crippling most healthcare systems, particularly on the African continent. Despite the ravages of Covid-19, some African states never believed that the virus existed and hence decided to lead care-free lives, making them incur huge costs. One of the countries that did not believe in the existence of Covid-19 was Tanzania.
The state avoided anything and everything related to Covid-19. Its previous government, led by the late John Pombe Magufuli, did not take any steps to slow the spread of the virus. Besides, Tanzania was hesitant about taking the Covid-19 vaccines. John Pombe Magufuli misled the nation by saying that prayers had defeated the virus and that there was no worry. As a result, people, including doctors, were able to walk around freely without masks.
During this time, the health authorities did not allow doctors to report any deaths related to Covid-19. Instead, they would say that the deaths were due to some other illnesses, such as pneumonia. Those media organizations that covered the Covid-19 developments in the country were not lucky, since the authorities stopped the operations of some.
Due to John Magufuli’s ignorance, there was a surge in infections in March, the month that he also passed away. According to reports, Magufuli died of heart failure, but the opposition is skeptical. They claim that John Magufuli contracted the virus, which may have been the cause of his death.
Tanzania’s Turnaround
The current government, which Magufuli’s successor and deputy, Samia Suluhu, leads, has requested a vaccine from the World Health Organization-backed Covax program. Unlike John Magufuli, Samia Suluhu Hassan attempted to increase transparency in the pandemic’s handling by opening many Covid-19 testing labs and wearing masks during public engagements.
Tanzania is expected to get its first vaccines in the coming weeks, according to a World Health Organization spokesman, and WHO experts are working with the government on a detailed deployment plan.
Samia Suluhu Hassan has chosen epidemiologists to advise Tanzania on viral response and has issued science-based coronavirus guidelines, which include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare professionals. Tanzania is also expected to start reporting Covid-19 infections and deaths to the World Health Organization and other health organizations.
What does Elisha Osati say?
The government should give vaccines to healthcare and other front-line workers, according to Elisha Osati, an internal medicine specialist at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam’s commercial capital. Many of these healthcare workers continue to work without adequate protection or standardized protocols for treating COVID patients.
Elisha Osati says:
“We’ve lost many patients, including healthcare workers, not just due to the lack of vaccines but because, for many months, Covid-19 didn’t officially exist in Tanzania.”
It is good that Tanzania finally decided to change its way and start a new journey. Tanzania will work with other countries and the World Health Organization to combat this deadly, unseen enemy and protect people’s lives. Tanzanians believe that their current leader has the ability to change their country positively in a big way.
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