Zanzibar unveils a five-year National Action Plan to strengthen Health Security on the island.

Excerpt and Photo from afro.who.int

In a landmark event underscoring its commitment to bolstering public health infrastructure and technical capacities, Zanzibar with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). This comprehensive five-year strategy aims to fortify the island’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies, drawing on insights from the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities.

The NAPHS, with a substantial budget of TZS 50.6 billion, marks a pivotal step in addressing the gaps identified by the JEE and implementing its key recommendations. The plan enhances Zanzibar’s health security through improved coordination among government ministries, relevant departments, and non-governmental organizations.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Country Representative, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, articulated the significance of the plan: The launch of the NAPHS is a significant achievement. WHO is proud to support this crucial step towards a robust health security framework, addressing immediate needs and laying the groundwork for long-term resilience.”