The government of Tanzania has signalled that the country has no intention to import any type of Covid-19 vaccines. The country intended to use local herbs to fight the virus.
A spokesperson at the Ministry of Health Gerald Chamii, said the country has no plans to import a Covid-19 vaccine into the country, instead, scientists in the country are researching on a local remedy. Chamii cast doubt on the efficacy of foreign Covid-19 vaccines, saying that there is not enough evidence to guarantee they give maximum protection.
Furthermore, Tanzania is the only country so far in the world which has placed an order on the Madagascar Covid herb mixture. The main ingredient in the mixture Artemisia annua, has been proven to be effective in the treatment of malaria. However, no clinical trials have been conducted on its effectiveness in the treatment of Covid-19.
Since the start of the pandemic, many countries has put in place measures such as lockdown and strict Covid-19 protocols, but the government of Tanzania has declared the country ‘Covid-Free’. It has not put in place any curfew or strict rules to curb the spread of the virus.
Little information is known about the state of Covid-19 in Tanzania due to the government stance. The lack of information has made it difficult for experts to verify the extent of infection in the country.
The US and other countries are warning their citizens about travelling to the country.