MWE Correspondent
Arusha will host the second Tanzania Primary Health Care Conference, bringing together health professionals and other stakeholders from across the country to discuss progress, challenges and opportunities in strengthening primary health care.
The conference will take place from September 9 to 11, 2026, at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), according to Arusha Regional Commissioner CPA Amos Gabriel Makalla.
Speaking at his office on September 8, Makalla welcomed delegates to Arusha and expressed his pride that the region had been selected to host the national conference.
He said the event reflects the government’s efforts to strengthen primary health care and improve access to essential health services, particularly at the community level.
Makalla noted that Arusha has made significant progress in expanding health infrastructure, with facilities established and improved from village and ward levels to district and regional hospitals.
He also credited the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan with bringing health services closer to citizens, saying the expansion of health facilities has reduced the distance and costs residents face when seeking medical treatment.
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“I thank President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for strengthening primary health care in our region. She has ensured that health services reach citizens in their communities, with dispensaries in villages, health centres in wards and modern hospitals in every district,” Makalla said.
According to the Regional Commissioner, Arusha has received Sh94.8 billion during the Sixth Phase Government to improve health infrastructure and expand access to services.
He said the investment had contributed to an increase in the number of health facilities in the region from 382 to 450, while the region had also received 27 ambulances and recruited 823 health workers.
Makalla further highlighted improvements in maternal and child health, saying maternal deaths had declined from 50 to 38, while the number of child deaths had fallen from 606 to 497.
He said the progress demonstrates the impact of continued investment in primary health care and the expansion of services closer to communities.
The three-day conference is expected to provide a platform for health experts and stakeholders to exchange experiences, assess achievements and identify practical measures for further strengthening Tanzania’s primary health care system.
Arusha’s hosting of the conference also reinforces the city’s position as a major destination for international and national meetings, alongside its established reputation as one of Tanzania’s leading tourism hubs.
