COASTAL REGION (Tanzania), March 7 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE government of Cuba has pledged a significant cooperation with the Tanzanian government in the health sector, particularly in the fight against malaria.
This was revealed today, when the President of the Cuban Parliament, Esteban Hernandez, visited Tanzania Biotech Products Limited, a factory located in Kibaha, Coast Region.
The factory, built at a cost of approximately 22.3m US dollars, specializes in producing insecticides to combat various disease-carrying insects, including malaria-causing mosquitoes.
Hernandez stated that this collaboration stems from the success of a similar facility in Cuba. He emphasized that using products from this factory would help control malaria and safeguard the health of Tanzanians.
“The core priority of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government is to ensure the safety of our people from various diseases, including malaria. This is a great example of Cuba’s commitment to assisting in the fight against malaria. I assure you that the Cuban government is ready to support Tanzania in this battle,” Hernandez affirmed.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Cuba, Hamphrey Polepole, highlighted that the Tanzanian government has invested significant efforts in fighting malaria and saving lives. He urged local councils receiving insecticides from the factory to use them according to expert guidelines to achieve the best results.
Additionally, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Dr Suleiman Serera said the plant has the capacity to produce 1.2 million liters of insecticides, although its full potential allows for up to 6 million liters.
He noted that the government has allocated 10bn/-for purchasing locally-produced insecticides before exporting them to other countries.
“This factory is very crucial for our nation, and its production capacity is immense. This year, the government has allocated about 10bn/- to ensure that products manufactured here are purchased and used within the country,” said Dr Serera.
Nicholas Shombe, CEO of the National Development Corporation (NDC), pointed out that this factory is unique in Africa and has made significant strides in combating malaria. Additionally, the factory exports its products to eight African countries.
Shombe also revealed that the factory plans to produce environmentally friendly fertilizers for farmers. These fertilizers will be non-toxic, making it easier for farmers to sell their produce in international markets. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
