Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — Amidst rumours of the rising number of people with respiratory diseases in private hospitals, Tanzania authorities have issued new policy directives requiring national and foreign travellers to be screened for Coronavirus.
Dorothy Gwajima, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children said in a statement that COVID-19 screening is mandatory at the fee of Tanzanian shillings 230,000 US$100 for all national and international travelers.
“All travelers are required to go to respective health facilities designated for COVID-19 testing, those whose results turn out negative will be issued with COVID-19 clearance certificates and their names will be transferred electronically to relevant officials,” she said.
All travelers, foreigners and returning citizens, whose countries or airlines require them to get tested for COVID-19 with a negative test result as a condition for travel are required to present a certificate upon arrival, the government said.
Questionable Data
The east African country which halted COVID-19 testing and subsequently stopped publishing relevant data in April 2020, on the grounds that the Chinese-made testing kits were defective, recorded a total of 509 confirmed cases and 21 deaths.
The new guideline sets out procedures for applications, testing, how to take the results, border checks and testing costs for travelers.
According to Minister Gwajima, technological changes have necessitated the cost of testing for COVID-19 to rise from Tanzanian shillings 40,000 (US$ 17) to $100.
At present getting COVID-19 test results, which involve a nasal and throat swab, takes up to 48 hours.
According to officials, COVID-19 positive patients have the option to stay under observation and treatment at the designated health facilities or isolate themselves at home under strict supervision.
Alternative Remedies
While the rest of the world has embraced conventional approach to fight the deadly pandemic, Tanzania switched to prayers, ginger, lemonade concoctions and steam inhalation to fight the virus.
Unlike other African nations, Tanzania shunned lockdowns opted instead to rely on the power of prayer and alternative remedies.
President John Magufuli—nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his solid track record of getting things done declared in June last year that the nation had eliminated the virus after three days of prayers.
His remarks, however, casted serious doubts among public health professionals, with officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and African Centre for Disease Control, strongly criticising the government’s move to halt COVID-19 testing in May.
Infections Rumours
Speaking on conditions of anonymity for fear of reprisals, health workers at major private hospitals in Tanzania’s largest commercial city claim the number of people with respiratory-related complications and high fever has been rising although most of them recover quickly.
“There has been an increase in admission into health facilities, I would like to advise you to maintain precaution,” said a doctor at Safe Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
The government denied the claims.
Veneer Of Truth
Aidan Eyakuze, the Executive Director of Twaweza—a local governance think tank, criticized the official narrative on Coronavirus in Tanzania terming it “veneer of truth”
“We hear whispered insights from medical professionals, and circumstantial evidence of friends and colleagues losing loved ones after sudden respiratory distress which proved fatal,” wrote Eyakuze in The Citizen, Tanzania’s leading independent newspaper.
While neighbouring Kenya and Uganda are increasingly worried by the pandemic, Tanzania seems blissfully relaxed about it, Eyakuze said.
“Lack of open data contributes to this sense of security,” he said.