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Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has commended the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
for its leading role in advancing public health and disease prevention across the African continent.
During his visit to the Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, Minister Kombo praised the agency’s achievements and called on African governments to better utilize its capacity.
“We should be your ambassadors so that our leaders fully understand the importance of your work,” Kombo told Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.
Minister Kombo emphasized that Africa CDC’s work goes beyond health alone, impacting education, sports, culture, and social development. He urged the institution to expand collaboration with various ministries in African Union (AU) member states to fully harness its value.
Tanzania, he said, is committed to strengthening these ties and building a resilient health framework at home and regionally.
As part of Tanzania’s commitment, Minister Kombo proposed technical collaboration between Africa CDC and the Medical Stores Department (MSD) to improve the availability of medical supplies. He noted that Tanzania is establishing new drug distribution centers at border crossings and in all districts to enhance access to essential medicines and emergency response.
In addition, Kombo highlighted Africa CDC’s efforts in fighting sickle cell disease and confirmed Tanzania’s willingness to contribute through the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) program — a youth and health-centered initiative introduced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
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Dr. Kaseya, in response, thanked the Minister for his visit and underscored Tanzania’s potential to champion Africa CDC’s mission across the continent. He especially noted President Samia’s leadership role as the current Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defense and Security.
“Tanzania can help convey our message to decision-makers across Africa,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
During the visit, Minister Kombo toured the Africa CDC’s Emergency Operations Centre — a high-tech command hub that monitors over 140 public health threats across Africa in real time, including disease outbreaks and health emergencies.
The visit highlights growing efforts to strengthen Africa’s public health infrastructure, particularly following lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa CDC, established in 2016 as a specialized health agency of the AU, now leads disease surveillance, rapid response, vaccine procurement, and pandemic preparedness.
Kombo was accompanied by Tanzania’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Hon. Innocent Shiyo, and Ambassador Noel Kaganda, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry.
