Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for stronger cooperation among African countries to improve maternal and child health, prepare for climate-related health risks and strengthen the continent’s ability to respond to future health emergencies.
President Samia made the call on Monday, October 5, 2026, when she met World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at State House in Dar es Salaam.
Tedros is in Tanzania for a working visit and is also expected to attend the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), taking place in Arusha from October 5 to 9. The meeting with Samia focused on several health priorities affecting Tanzania, Africa and the wider international community.
Samia said African countries should continue working together to develop new approaches to reducing maternal deaths and improving the health of mothers, newborns and children.
She also called for greater attention to children’s health, emphasizing the need to ensure that children receive the care and support necessary to grow and develop.
The president further highlighted the importance of implementing the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, alongside related health initiatives covering mothers, newborns, children and young people.
Samia also asked WHO to continue supporting African countries in tackling malnutrition and strengthening the availability of essential health services.
The call comes as Tanzania and other countries in the region prepare for the health and humanitarian risks associated with the 2026 El Niño season. Tanzania’s Meteorological Authority has warned that the October-to-December rainfall season is expected to be strongly influenced by El Niño, with some parts of the country forecast to receive normal to above-normal rainfall.
Tanzanian authorities have already begun preparations for possible effects, including flooding and damage to infrastructure. The government has directed regional and district authorities to strengthen disaster-response systems and ensure that communities receive timely information about the expected rains.
Samia also emphasized the importance of cooperation between African countries in responding to health risks that can cross national borders, particularly those associated with climate and extreme weather events.
The president welcomed WHO’s continued partnership with Tanzania and asked the organisation to maintain its support for the country’s health priorities.
Tedros, for his part, praised Tanzania’s health leadership and its work in implementing the Global Health Security Agenda.
The WHO chief also highlighted Tanzania’s contribution to international health cooperation, including its participation in efforts to strengthen preparedness for pandemics and other health emergencies.
The two leaders also discussed the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which was adopted by WHO member states in May 2025 after several years of negotiations. The agreement establishes a framework intended to strengthen international preparedness and coordination for future pandemics. WHO has emphasized that implementation will be carried out by countries in accordance with their national laws and that the agreement does not give the WHO Secretariat authority to impose lockdowns, vaccination or mask mandates.
Tanzania has previously expressed support for international cooperation on pandemic preparedness. During WHO discussions in 2024, Tanzania backed efforts to amend the International Health Regulations and develop the Pandemic Agreement, arguing that countries needed to work together to prepare for future health emergencies.
Tedros also praised Tanzania’s health-sector efforts and recalled the country’s cooperation with WHO during the 2025 Marburg virus outbreak. WHO has previously credited Tanzania’s rapid response and coordination with helping contain the outbreak and has described the country’s investments in emergency preparedness as important to its response capacity.
The latest meeting therefore comes as Tanzania balances longer-term health priorities, including maternal and child health, with preparations for climate-related risks and the need to strengthen systems capable of responding to future outbreaks.
