The cooperation between Tanzania and Finland aims at jointly developing new innovative ways to tackle climate change, to enhance pedagogical skills of teachers as well as to create jobs and livelihoods
Finland is known for its world-class technological innovations, effective education system and probably for many for being the happiest country in the world year after year. This has not always been the case. More than hundred years ago, Finland gained its independence from the Russian empire. We were one of the poorest countries in Europe, went through a bloody civil war soon after independence and two invasion attempts by the Soviet Union during the Second World War. What made Finland’s development possible then?
There are at least two different factors that can account for the Finnish success story.
One is the strong focus on the education system. Finland has no major natural resources to rely on, except our abundant forests, so we realized that people are our best resource. Providing equal education to all the girls and boys, no matter how remote they lived, was one of the key goals since the early years of Finnish independence.
Education alone is not a silver bullet to development, but it makes many things possible. The technological advances, Nokia phones taking over the world for example, would not have been possible without a highly educated population. Today, digitalization is in our business DNA and we have developed advanced digital services across the government and society.
When it comes to education, Finland is already active in Tanzania on many levels. Finland is supporting the development of the technical and vocational education and training, with focus on forestry, and many institutions of higher learning are cooperating with their Tanzanian counterparts.
The cooperation aims at jointly developing new innovative ways to tackle climate change, to enhance pedagogical skills of teachers as well as to create jobs and livelihoods.
Another key factor has been our belief in free trade and open markets. Today Finland is a keen member of European Union, the largest free trade area in the world. Finland has benefitted tremendously from the free flow of people, goods and capital through the European continent. Most importantly, Finland has benefitted from the free flow of ideas that the European integration has brought to us.
Finland has set out a goal of doubling its trade, not just exports, with the African continent by the year 2030.
Tanzania is one of the key partners to make this goal a reality. We strongly believe that the integration not only within the continents but also between different regions is a key to prosperity.
Formalising the trade relations in the form of European Partnership Agreements between regions or individual countries is one of the ways to do this.
Another prime example of economic cooperation is the EU-Tanzania Business Forum taking place in Dar es Salaam on February 23 and 24.
Finland has come a long way from its humble beginnings. We like to share our story and the lessons we have learned on the way. We do our best to become part of Tanzania’s success story as well, through active dialogue and increased trade. Today’s social challenges are complex – such as green and digital transformation – but they are also great opportunities. That is why we need to scale up our international business collaboration and co-creation.
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Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
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