Months ago, the Tanzanian government insisted the country was free of Covid-19 - so there are no vaccination plans.
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| Coronavirus in Tanzania |
The BBC's Dickens Olewe spoke to a family to mourn the death of a suspected husband and father. The fear is that, amid denial, there are many unacknowledged victims of this highly contagious virus.
A week after Peter - not his real name - arrived home from work with a dry cough and loss of sense of taste, he was rushed to hospital where he died within hours. Not tested for Covid. But then, according to the Tanzanian government, which has not released data on the Coronavirus in months, the country is "Covid-19 free".
There are few testing and no plans for a vaccination program in the East African country.
It is almost impossible to gauge the true extent of the virus and only a small number of people are officially allowed to speak about this problem.
Recent public statements hinted at a different reality at a time when some citizens, like Peter's wife, are calmly grieving the death of family members suspected of being infected with the virus.
Many Tanzanian families have had similar experiences but have chosen not to speak out for fear of government reprisal.
The British government has banned all travelers from Tanzania, while the United States has warned against going to the country due to the Coronavirus.
Vaccine dispute
Since June of last year, when President John Magufuli declared the country "free of Covid-19", he, along with other senior government officials, have ridiculed the effectiveness of masks, questioned the success of the test, and angered neighboring countries that have imposed health measures to curb the virus.
Magufuli also warned - without providing any evidence - that Covid-19 vaccines could be harmful, and instead urged Tanzanians to use steam inhalation and herbal medicines, neither of which has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a treatment.
It is unclear why the president has expressed doubts about vaccinations, but recently he said that Tanzanians should not be used as "guinea pigs."
"If the white man had been able to provide vaccines, he would have found vaccinations against AIDS, cancer and tuberculosis now," said Magufuli, who had always considered himself standing up to Western imperialism.
Who does not agree.
"Vaccines are working and I encourage the [Tanzanian] government to prepare for a vaccination campaign against the Covid virus," said Dr. Machidisu Moeti, WHO director in Africa, adding that the organization is ready to support the country.
But the Minister of Health, Dorothy Guajima, reiterated Mr. Magufuli's stance on vaccinations, adding that the ministry has "its own procedures regarding how to receive any drugs and we do so after we are satisfied with the product."
She made these remarks at a press conference this week, where an official explained how to make juice using ginger, onions, lemon and pepper - a drink, as they said without providing evidence, which will help prevent infection with the Coronavirus.
“We must improve our personal hygiene, wash hands with running water and soap, use tissues, steam herbs, exercise, eat nutritious foods, drink lots of water, and [use] the natural remedies that our nation enjoys,” said Dr. Guajima. .
Listen to Africa Daily: Has Tanzania Really Beaten the Coronavirus?
But this was not because the virus was in the country. She said the Tanzanians should be prepared because the virus was "sweeping" neighboring countries.
Some doctors question the government's position.
"The problem here is that the government is telling Tanzanians that the vegetable mixture, which has nutritional benefits, is all they need to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, and this is not the case," a local doctor, who did not reveal his identity, told the BBC. Had to take precautions against the virus.
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