DAR ES SALAAM, July 3 – The United States has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tanzania to invest more than $1.3 billion in the country’s health sector over the next five years under a new bilateral health partnership.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday, is part of the America First Global Health Strategy, through which the United States is working with countries including Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda to strengthen local health systems and reduce long term dependence on foreign aid.
Under the deal, Tanzania has committed to investing $1.8 billion in its own health sector during the same period, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Tanzania.
Both countries said the joint funding will support efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases while improving Tanzania’s ability to finance, manage and sustain essential healthcare services.
Similar agreements signed with other African countries have faced criticism over concerns that they could involve access to strategic minerals or the sharing of personal health data and biological samples. Zambia has rejected proposals linking such a deal to mineral access, while a Kenyan court suspended part of a similar agreement following a legal challenge over data privacy.
Tanzanian Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa said the country’s agreement does not include the sharing of laboratory specimens with the United States.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, he said all samples related to disease outbreaks, epidemics and potential pandemics would continue to be tested, stored and managed within Tanzania.
