Download SPEECH BY DR. DEO MTASIWA, DEPUTY PERMANENT

SPEECH BY DR. DEO MTASIWA, DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY, PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DURING THE EPIHACK TANZANIA EVENT
HELD AT MOUNT MERU HOTEL, ARUSHA, TANZANIA, DECEMBER 12, 2014
Executive Director, Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance, Prof. Mark
Rweyemamu;
The Director of Skoll Global Threats Fund, Dr. Mark Smonlinski;
Representatives from African Union-Scientific, Technical & Research Commission;
Heads of Regional and International Organizations involved with infectious disease surveillance;
Epihack Tanzania Organizers;
Invited Epihack Tanzania Participants;
Distinguished Guests;
Colleagues; Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel privileged to be with you today when you are concluding a five-day Epihack intensive work
which began on Monday 8th December 2014. This Epihack, which I am told, is the first in Africa and
fourth in series is an important event that has brought together 70 health and information
technology (IT) programme developers from different countries and institutions to collaboratively
plan and develop digital solutions for improved early detection and response to disease epidemics in
East and Southern Africa. I have also been informed that some facilitators and participants came
from South East Asian countries (Thailand and Cambodia) as well as from America (United States of
America and Argentina). Thank you very much for showing such solidarity in improving global human
and animal health. I would to say once again “KARIBUNI SANA TANZANIA” particularly to Arusha
“The Geneva of Africa”. I hope that after your hard working days you will find time to visit our
touristic destinations within and outside Arusha region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last night I had opportunity to visit and witness on how you have been having sleepless days and
nights while continuing to work on different digital prototypes aimed at providing solutions to
improved disease surveillance and response in East and Southern Africa. I realized that you have
worked tirelessly to provide tools to facilitate: i) contact tracing during disease outbreaks; ii)
improved reporting of diseases through the official systems in human and animal health sectors; iii)
Community-based participatory surveillance and; iv) Feedback and two-way communications
required for effective disease surveillance and response to communicable diseases. The work you
have started is timely and relevant not only to the United Republic of Tanzania but also to the East
and Southern African regions. You have surely initiated the process which will lead to a better world
through improved and early detection, control and eradication of infectious diseases in human and
animal populations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to emphasize the need to strengthen our disease surveillance systems using the One
Health Approach. Of recent years, a number of African countries have experienced incidences of
emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. These include Dengue, Ebola, Marburg Fever, Lujo
Virus and many others. Ebola epidemic that erupted in December 2013 is still killing our brothers and
sisters in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Most of these diseases are viral in nature and not curable.
To effectively protect our people from such catastrophes, we need an effective and efficient
surveillance system to enable plan and implement appropriate interventions. Such systems must be
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supported by efficient communication and data management systems and involve the community in
a participatory manner.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am also informed that SACIDS in collaboration with CORDS, InSTEDD, and EAIDSnet has developed
a proposal entitled ‘Enhancement of the Disease Surveillance Network with Digital and Mobile
Technology for Early Detection and Response in Southern and East Africa’. The idea of setting up a
‘Regional Technology Resource Centre’ that will be hosted at the Morogoro Regional Referral
Hospital is very innovative and essential. I would like to urge you to, in addition to the
epidemiological surveillance, consider linking it up with the Regional Hospital Laboratory, particularly
in the proposed project areas in Kagera, Kigoma, Katavi and Mbeya regions so that surveillance could
be linked to the diagnostic systems.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me assure you that the Government of United Republic of Tanzania is very supportive of your
initiative and will work closely with you in improving health and livelihoods of our citizens in the East
and Southern African countries. I wish to assure you that our Government values the Science,
Technology and Innovation approaches geared towards promoting health and social development of
our communities. I am also aware that our neighbouring countries of Burundi, Uganda, Kenya,
Zambia and Malawi have the same spirit when it comes to health and social development matters. I
am also informed that during the Epihack you discussed and deliberated on how to improve crossborder and cross-sectoral collaborations between human and animal health sectors. This is a relevant
approach which is also supported by the Government of United Republic of Tanzania too.
It is equally important that your collaborations with other similar institutions, within SADC region will
facilitate the scaling up of similar initiatives in other countries. This is a great opportunity, which I
sincerely hope will strengthen our capacity in the detection of, and response to infectious disease in
the Southern Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to inform you that currently, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is
finalizing its Framework on “Strengthening Systems for Surveillance and Response to Public Health
Risks and Emergencies” as part of the BIG RESULTS NOW. I would like to urge SACIDS and the National
Institute for Medical Research to liaise with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to include your
planned activities in the national framework.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me at this juncture express my sincere thanks to the Southern African Centre for Infectious
Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) and the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network
(EAIDSNet) who jointly organized the Epihack Tanzania in collaboration with the Connecting
Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance Network (CORDS) and the Innovative Support to
Emergencies Diseases and Disasters (InSTEDD). I would also like to thank the Skoll Global Threats
Fund for financial support to this event. You have shown that regional and international
collaborative efforts can bear fruits that will flourish now and in future. Once again, thank you very
much!
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we approach end-of-year festive season, let me take this opportunity to wish you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2015. I wish you safe journeys back home.
It is my singular honour and pleasure to declare the Epihack Tanzania event officially closed!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
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