TANZANIA TOURISM UNITES TO ELIMINATE MALARIA

3^RD May 2011, Dar es Salaam; United Against Malaria (UAM), The Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, National Malaria Control Program and Tanzania Confederation of Tourism has united to eliminate malaria in the Tourism Industry.

The parties are committed to engage the hotel and tourism industry in Tanzania in the fight against malaria because Tourism is significant to our nation’s economic development.

“Our goal is to galvanize partners throughout the country to reach the United Nations target of reducing malaria deaths to near zero by 2015 and a crucial first step is the universal access to mosquito nets and malaria medicine.’’ Said Fauziyat Abood the Media and Advocacy Manager from John Hopkins University Tanzania “Currently there are 16-18 million clinical malaria cases a year in Tanzania, resulting in between 60,000 - 80,000 deaths.”

Currently the country is a leader in mosquito net distribution: All infants and pregnant women get subsidized nets through a National Voucher Scheme (Hati Punguzo), and all children under the age of five have been given nets through a nationwide distribution campaign. An ongoing universal mosquito net campaign intends to distribute nets to all sleeping spaces in all households in Tanzania by the end of 2011, this being the largest distribution campaign ever done in the Tanzania mainland but there are still gaps to be addressed and it is for this reason the Ministry has decided to join the campaign.

Mr. Geoffrey Meena the Tanzania Tourist Board Marketing said “ malaria is one of the key concerns for tourists. This campaign will help ensure that hotels, lodges and tented camps are educated and proactive in the fight against malaria making Tanzania Tourist Board’s efforts to promote tourism easier as malaria cases will be highly reduced. Malaria eradication in the tourism industry is beneficial for both tourists and  workers, we are therefore urging all the stakeholders to commit to the fight against Malaria.”

The campaign which will be officially launched on May 5^th 2011 at the Moevenpick hotel will involve all stakeholders in the tourism and health industries.