The impact of the virus cannot be calculated in Tanzania, as the government has not published data for months and says it is free of COVID-19. This while a strange disease affects this country.
“This problem has not been widespread, it has happened only in Ifumbo, where people vomit blood and die when they arrive late at the hospital,” said Dr. Felista Kisandu about a strange disease that she says can turn into an epidemic and the led to a statement in violation of the law. By the action she was dismissed from her post by the Minister of Health of Tanzania, Dorothy Gwajima.
The controversy arises when the African country is gaining global attention for the government’s disinterest in acquiring vaccines against COVID-19 and refuses to accept that there is contagion, even assuring that the country is “COVID-19 free”.
On Saturday at a meeting Kisandu was consulted by a group of politicians on the emergence of a strange disease that has so far killed about 15 people and is in critical condition to another 50, she explained that the problem has only happened to Ifumbo.
Weston Mpyila, councilor of the region, asked if the government is at the target of the disease and if it is taking measures to control it, in response to which Kisandu said that samples had been taken and was being investigated, but the evil affecting the settlers had not yet been reported.
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The doctor explained that the disease affects men more and they are the ones who have more liver complications and ulcers. He also spoke of the ease of contagion and recommended “avoiding illicit potions, smoking cigarettes and other alcoholic beverages.”
The message reached the ears of national government. that before analyzing the matter in depth or hearing the doctor’s arguments, he decided to suspend it for violating the Public Health Act of 2009, on the grounds that he had announced the onset of an epidemic. Minister Gwajima then warned that this prerogative belongs to the Ministry of Health and would only do so after obtaining full information on the matter.
“To create unnecessary panic among residents, I order Dr. Felista Kisandu’s employer to suspend her to pave the way for Medical Council investigations and send me the report within ten days.” , said Gwajima.
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Gwajima denied the presence of an epidemic in Chunya and issued a warning to the relevant authorities and media companies, asking them to be professionals in their task of gathering and disseminating information.
However, it is the government of President John Magufuli himself who has stopped reporting to WHO on COVID-19, as well as proclaiming that the pandemic can be banished by the force of prayers and leaving aside the measures of social distance.
In this East African country there is little evidence and no plans for a vaccination program.
It is almost impossible to calculate the true extent of viruses and only a small number of people can officially speak on the subject.
Since June last year, when President John Magufuli declared the country “free of covid-19”, he and other senior government officials have mocked the effectiveness of the masks, questioning whether evidence of detection work and have laughed at neighboring countries, which have imposed sanitary measures to curb the virus.
Magufuli also warned, without providing any evidence, that covid-19 vaccines could be harmful, but instead urged Tanzanians to use steam inhalation and herbal medicines, none of which have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a treatment.