President Samia Suluhu took over three months ago as leader of Tanzania – from John Magufuli, a prominent coronavirus sceptic who died in March from heart complications, opening up the prospect of a new approach to Covid.
So has Tanzania changed after a long period of denial and doubt about coronavirus?
What has the new president said about Covid?
She has admitted the virus is circulating and urged people to take precautions such as:
- hand-washing
- using masks
- social distancing
In June 2020, after going through the first wave of the pandemic, President Magufuli declared the country coronavirus free and, at least initially, did not encourage the use of face masks or indicate Tanzania would acquire vaccines.
“I believe… that the corona disease has been eliminated by God,” he said.
President Magufuli also promoted:
- prayers
- physical fitness
- steam inhalation
- herbal remedies
And on steam inhalation and other remedies, President Samia’s break with her predecessor has been less categorical.
She has said:
- people should not be discouraged from using steam inhalation and she had read it could be effective in the early stages of infection
- it is not right to “totally ridicule and say no” to herbal remedies
“If you feel steam inhalation helps you, go and do it,” President Samia said.
“If you feel taking a particular drug will help you, do it.”
But there is no evidence supporting steam inhalation as an effective remedy against Covid.
And Tanzania Medical Association head Shadrack Mwaibambe says the government should not be talking about it “because we [the authorities] have decided to follow the science”.
When she took over, President Samia formed a task force on Covid-19.
- the virus’s presence should be publicly acknowledged
- Covid data should be made public
- Tanzania should join global vaccine-sharing programme Covax
In the early days of her presidency, President Samia would usually appear in public without a mask.
But she did wear a mask on some foreign visits (in Uganda and Kenya) and has increasingly been seen with one in Tanzania.
Government agencies have also been calling on people to wear masks.
And there are new guidelines for the reopening of schools, including:
- wearing masks
- social distancing
- ensuring hand-washing facilities and sanitisers are available
How have things changed on the ground?
The change in the political position has allowed doctors to work more freely, diagnose patients and treat them without fear of repercussions from the authorities, Mr Mwaibambe says.
In early June, President Samia let international organisations and foreign embassies import vaccines for their employees.
And Tanzania has now applied to join Covax.
“We hurried and declared we are taking part,” President Samia said.
The African Union also says the country is participating in its vaccine-purchasing programme.
But in mid-May President Samia told Muslim officials she had noted their concerns about about vaccine safety and her government would not accept “all that is brought to us or [what] we are told to do”.
“So, even on this issue of vaccines, we will satisfy ourselves before deciding whether to use them or not,” she said.
What about official coronavirus data?
When the pandemic began, in 2020, Tanzania did start publishing official data for infections and deaths but then suddenly stopped.
Opposition leader Zitto Kabwe has called on the government to start again.
World Health Organization regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said: “We are continuing to encourage that country to share with WHO data on a regular basis, as are all other member states.”
-BBC
