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.
Officials encourage hand washing and a healthy lifestyle to prevent coronavirus infections. (AFP)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.
Tanzanians have been told by the authorities – without providing evidence – that steaming helps to protect against coronavirus (AFP)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.
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.
