LAGOS, July 6 – The United States and Tanzania have signed a memorandum of understanding that will mobilise more than $3.1 billion for Tanzania’s health sector over the next five years, as Washington expands its efforts to support locally financed healthcare systems across Africa.
The agreement Signed on July 1, commits the United States to invest more than $1.3 billion, while Tanzania has pledged an additional $1.8 billion over the same period to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
The partnership forms part of US President Donald Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy, an initiative designed to help developing countries build more sustainable health systems as the United States scales back traditional foreign aid programmes.
According to a statement from the US Embassy in Tanzania, “This joint investment reflects both countries’ commitment to preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to finance, manage, and self-sustain essential health services.”
The agreement follows similar health partnerships signed between the United States and several African countries, including Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.
Some of those agreements have generated controversy over concerns that they could require participating countries to grant the United States access to strategic mineral resources or share sensitive health data and biological samples. Zambia has rejected proposals linking a health agreement to mineral access, while part of Kenya’s arrangement remains before the courts following a legal challenge centred on data privacy.
Tanzania’s government moved to address similar concerns during the signing ceremony.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa said “We did not enter into a specimen-sharing agreement.”
He further stressed that “Tanzania’s specimens including those of outbreak, epidemic and pandemics potential will be tested, stored and governed here in Tanzania.”
The clarification is intended to reassure the public that biological samples collected within the country will remain under Tanzania’s control despite the expanded partnership with the United States.
The agreement marks another step in Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen healthcare financing, improve disease surveillance and build greater resilience within its public health system through long-term domestic and international investment.
