[ 2021-02-06 ]

Coronavirus in Tanzania: The country that's rejecting the vaccine
For months Tanzania's government has insisted the
country was free from Covid-19 - so there are no
plans for vaccination. The BBC's Dickens Olewe has
spoken to one family mourning the death of a
husband and father suspected of having had the
disease. The fear is that amid the denial, there
are many more unacknowledged victims of this
highly contagious virus.

A week after Peter - not his real name - arrived
home from work with a dry cough and loss of taste,
he was taken to hospital, where he died within
hours. He had not been tested for Covid. But then,
according to Tanzania's government, which has not
published data on the coronavirus for months, the
country is "Covid-19-free".

There is little testing and no plans for a
vaccination programme in the East African
country.

It is nearly impossible to gauge the true extent
of the virus and only a small number of people are
officially allowed to talk about the issue.

Recent public statements have hinted at a
different reality at a time when some citizens,
like Peter's wife, are quietly mourning the deaths
of family members suspected to have had the
virus.
A security officer dispenses chlorinated water to
a passenger at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar
es Salaamimage copyrightAFP
image captionOfficials encourage hand washing and
a healthy lifestyle to prevent coronavirus
infections

Several Tanzanian families have had similar
experiences but have chosen not to speak out,
fearing retribution from the government.

The British government has banned all travellers
arriving from Tanzania, while the US has warned
against going to the country because of
coronavirus.
Vaccine dispute

Since June last year, when President John Magufuli
declared the country "Covid-19 free", he, along
with other top government officials, have mocked
the efficacy of masks, doubted if testing works,
and teased neighbouring countries which have
imposed health measures to curb the virus.

Mr Magufuli has also warned - without providing
any evidence - that Covid-19 vaccines could be
harmful and has instead been urging Tanzanians to
use steam inhalation and herbal medicines, neither
of which have been approved by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as treatments.

It is unclear why the president has expressed such
scepticism about the vaccines but he recently said
that Tanzanians should not be used as "guinea
pigs".

"If the white man was able to come up with
vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination
for Aids, cancer and TB by now," said Mr Magufuli,
who has often cast himself as standing up to
Western imperialism.

The WHO disagrees.

"Vaccines work and I encourage the [Tanzanian]
government to prepare for a Covid vaccination
campaign," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's
Africa director, adding that the organisation was
ready to support the country.
Steam inhalation boothimage copyrightAFP
image captionTanzanians have been told by the
authorities - without providing evidence - that
steaming helps to protect against coronavirus

But Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima reiterated Mr
Magufuli's stance on vaccines, adding that the
ministry had "its own procedure on how to receive
any medicines and we do so after we have satisfied
ourselves with the product".

She made the comments at a press briefing this
week at which an official demonstrated how to make
a smoothie using ginger, onions, lemons and pepper
- a drink, they said without providing evidence,
which would help prevent catching coronavirus.

"We must improve our personal hygiene, wash hands
with running water and soap, use handkerchiefs,
herbal steam, exercise, eat nutritious food, drink
plenty of water, and [use] natural remedies that
our nation is endowed with," Dr Gwajima said.

Listen to Africa Daily: Has Tanzania really
beaten coronavirus?

But this was not because the virus was in the
country. Tanzanians had to be prepared because the
virus was "ravaging" neighbouring countries, she
said.

Some medics are sceptical about the government's
stance.

"The problem here is the government is telling
Tanzanians that the vegetable mixture, which has
nutritional benefits, is all they need to keep
coronavirus at bay, which is not the case," a
local doctor speaking anonymously told the BBC,
adding that people still had to take precautions
against the virus.

Source - BBC

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