DOHA-His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Tuesday at the Amiri Diwan with President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, on the occasion of her visit to the country to participate in the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).
The State of Qatar is always looking forward to strengthening its relations with the United Republic of Tanzania in various fields to serve the interests of both friendly countries, especially in the fields of investment, education and development assistance.Diplomatic relations between the two countries established on December 13, 1982 with a non-resident representation.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar opened in Dar es Salaam in July 2012 and the United Republic of Tanzania appointed an Ambassador in Doha in December 2016.
HH al-Thani and HE President Samia, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields, in addition to discussing a number of regional and international issues of common interest.
HE Chief of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani, and HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al- Muraikhi attended the meeting.
On the Tanzanian side, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Dr Ashatu Kijaji and Ambassador of Tanzania Dr Mahadhi Juma Maalim attended.
Earlier, Her Excellency President of the United Republic of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan praised the role of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) as a platform that brings together scientists, experts and specialists, and a means to exchange ideas and achieve tangible results in expanding and accelerating innovation in health.
Her Excellency stressed that it is a step in the right direction towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
In a speech during the opening session of the WISH 2022 Summit, Her Excellency considered that the work WISH has done, and is still doing in the field of healthcare is a source of great pride, especially as it focuses on the enthusiasm of actors for easy access to health services.
In her speech, Her Excellency praised the role of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in launching and supporting this important conference, which contributed greatly to developing solutions to global health challenges and influencing the policies of many governments to achieve comprehensive healthcare.
Her Excellency President of Tanzania stressed that her country appreciates its partnership with WISH and is eager to expand cooperation with it, as well as support it as a global initiative for innovation in healthcare, to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda, Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
Her Excellency President Samia explained that for decades, many health systems globally have faced increasing pressure due to demographic, epidemiological, social and economic shifts.
Additionally, globalization, modernity, digitization, climate change and population aging have strained the ability of health systems to achieve their desired outcomes. Add to that the COVID-19 pandemic which amplified these challenges and reinforced divisions in societies, casting a shadow over the most vulnerable.
She said that Tanzania seized the opportunity of rapid growth of mobile digital technology to establish various innovative interventions such as “M-Mama.”Explaining on the M-Mama platform, she said it uses a mobile platform to connect expecting mothers located in rural setting to emergency transport in an effort to cut down maternal related deaths.
“Manufacturing of mobile incubators is another innovation that facilitates referral of neonatal from one facility to another, this initiatives significantly decreased neonatal death in one region,” she said.
President Samia said despite the progress made in innovation in the country and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa Tanzania still faces a number of challenges.
She mentioned challenges as of lack of scaling human capital, infrastructure and funding to facilitate scaling up of innovations among others.
“I, therefore, I urge you all to take this opportunities to seek idea and discuss on the best ways to address this challenges especially when innovation is focusing to address people’s need,”said.
At the same time, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), placed great emphasis on the link between sports and health during her opening remarks at the 2022 World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).
Addressing senior health figures, officials and media personalities, Sheikha Moza said sports projects can further inspire Qatar and the world in reshaping “perceptions of ways of building more efficient and comprehensive healthcare systems.”
This year’s edition is the first to take place in-person since 2018. “The strong connection that links our summit today to the World Cup is that of two core principles: health and sports,” said Sheikha Moza.
Under the theme “Healing The Future”, this year’s edition of the annual event will gather at least 20 healthcare innovators from 13 countries.
The health professionals will be displaying their innovations for the next three days as panels are scheduled to take place on issues concerning global health, such as the Covid-19 pandemic that took the world by surprise in 2020.
Speaking to the attendees, Sheikha Moza noted that the event maintains its goal to find ways to encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle and preserve their health security.
“There can be no substitute for the essential work done by researchers, doctors, and medical practitioners. Nonetheless, we look towards transformative events to inspire individuals and remind them of their responsibilities towards themselves and their community,” said Sheikha Moza.