Dar es Salaam, Tanzania:
The Association of Tanzania Insurers (ATI) has complained of a shortage of local actuarial experts, a situation caused by high cost of obtaining international certification.
Actuarial experts are responsible for analysing the industry trend to calculate risks, premiums and design new products for insurers.
Insurance firms mostly use foreign experts, but new regulations require them to use local independent actuaries.
“We don’t have a local certified independent actuarial specialist in Tanzania…The few experts are already employed by various companies,” said ATI chairman, Mr Khamis Suleiman.
He said many insurance companies in the country that have relationships with international insurance companies did not see the importance of having a local actuarial department, but the new rules force them to use the local independent experts.
“The new rules for the management of the insurance sector force all companies to have an actuarial department and use independent experts who will have the task of giving opinions on the conduct of the company and how the customers can be served,” said Mr Suleiman.
As a solution to the challenge, The Muhanna Foundation has now introduced an examination centre in Tanzania in an attempt to reduce the cost of seeking international accreditation.
The organisation’s executive director Ibrahim Muhanna who is also a member of the actuaries, said certification takes up to seven years and the easiest part for a Tanzanian to sit for the exams was in South Africa or England.
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Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
