Dodoma, Tanzania —
THE Tanzania government has announced to cease the use of firewood and charcoal in public and private institutions in Tanzania Mainland that prepare food and feed more than 100 people per day by January 31, 2024.
It has also directed the institutions that prepare food and feed more than 300 people to cease the use of firewood and charcoal by January 31, 2025.
Announcing the government’s decision in Dodoma yesterday, the Minister of State in the Vice- President’s Office (Environment and Union), Dr Seleman Jafo said that the institutions will be required to use safe and clean renewable cooking energy.
“With the authority bestowed to me under Article 13 of the Environmental Management Law Chapter 191, I issue this prohibition to the institutions with the numbers mentioned above to stop the use of charcoal and firewood by the mentioned time,” he said.
Dr Jafo explained that the government intends to reduce environmental, health, social and economic impacts resulting from the use of firewood and charcoal and it already has prepared a National Vision for the Use of Clean Cooking Energy as well as a Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Vision for the period of 10 years until 2033.
He said that the vision has explained the cessation of the use of these energies for large users who are public and private institutions.
“Accessibility of charcoal and firewood is easy but their uses affects the users health by causing diseases resulted by inhaling dirty air that affects the lungs, heart and respiratory systems especially to children,” he said.
In addition, Dr Jafo explained that the government’s priority is to build an industrial economy, so the use of renewable cooking energy will provide an opportunity for factories to produce alternative charcoal in parallel with producing standardised and efficient stoves for the efficient use of such energy.
“The 2019 third report on the state of the environment in the country shows that the rate of forest destruction is high and there are more than 469,420 hectares of forests being deforested due to production of firewood and charcoal,” said Dr Jafo.
“It is estimated that 16 per cent of the land has been damaged and is facing the spread of desert and drought states due to unsustainable activities including deforestation for the aim of having firewood and charcoal for cooking,” he added.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
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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