The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and the Ministry of Health Zanzibar have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a major step forward in strengthening healthcare delivery, promoting innovation, and enhancing regional cooperation in health. The agreement was signed in Zanzibar on 21 April 2026.
The new partnership provides a strategic framework for collaboration in key priority areas, including health systems strengthening, policy engagement, digital health transformation, workforce training and capacity building, joint research and knowledge sharing, maternal and newborn health, disease prevention and control, and emergency preparedness and health security.
The agreement also highlights opportunities to expand the use of digital health and artificial intelligence, strengthen regional specialist training programmes, and explore medical tourism as part of efforts to position Zanzibar as a hub for quality healthcare services.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Zanzibar, Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji, noted that the MoU will create opportunities for Zanzibar to benefit from ECSA-HC’s regional health colleges, specialized training, professional development, and regional centres of excellence.
ECSA-HC Director General, Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, described the agreement as an important milestone in strengthening collaboration between ECSA-HC and Zanzibar, and reaffirmed ECSA-HC’s commitment to supporting Member States in building resilient, equitable, and innovative health systems.
Implementation of the partnership will be guided through joint coordination mechanisms, including a Joint Steering Committee and technical working teams, to ensure accountability and measurable impact. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improving health outcomes for the people of Zanzibar and the wider ECSA region.
During the occasion, ECSA-HC also highlighted the upcoming 17th ECSACONM Biennial Scientific Conference and 8th Quadrennial General Assembly, which will be hosted in Zanzibar from 14–18 September 2026. The event is expected to bring together nursing and midwifery professionals, policymakers, researchers, trainers, practitioners, and partners from across Africa and beyond.
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