12 July 2018, Zanzibar: Following adoption of 16 WHA resolutions in Geneva in May, the Ministry of Health in Mainland and Zanzibar with support from the World Health Organization met to deliberate on the way forward in implementing the agreed global resolutions.

The two-day meeting gathered Directors, Assistant Directors, Programme Managers from the two Ministries and WHO technical staff under the leadership of the Deputy Minister for Health Mainland, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the Deputy Minister for Health Zanzibar, Hon. Harusi Selemani and the WHO Representative, Dr. Adiele Onyeze.

The Hon Deputy Minister of Health for Zanzibar who was very pleased by the decision of Ministry of Health Tanzania Mainland to organize this workshop in Zanzibar opened the workshop. The Minister expressed her appreciation to the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health Zanzibar for convening the workshop in Zanzibar. "This is a true gesture of the strong collaboration between the two Ministries towards addressing health problems for the nation. It is important to strengthen this achievement", she noted.

"Tanzania is currently the Member of WHO Executive Board and therefore the opportunity must be used correctly by supporting our contribution towards the triple billion. Even though the world is seen like a village, we must consider our local contexts and therefore think globally but work locally", she added. Her remarks concluded by emphasizing on the need to focus more efforts in disease prevention by devising strategies to combat measles, cholera and malaria.

Remarks by the WHO Reprsentative elaborate on the importance of the World Health Assembly resolutions to the politicians and civil servants. "Resolutions contain strong and sufficient arguments that can be used secure political support and financial resources for health. WHO Plans and budgets are also designed to facilitate implementation of the resolutions", said the WR. Remarks further emphasized the position of the Global Programme of Work 2019-2023 in promoting equity in health services financing and provision through its motto “leaving no one behind”. Meeting was reminded that all health programmes currently supported by WHO will be aligned to deliver around the Triple billion targets.

The Hon Deputy Minister for Health from Mainland echoed remarks by his counterpart that the meeting provided an opportunity to enhance collaboration and cooperation between the two Ministries. He expressed his appreciation for the effort made to review the WHA resolutions and prepare a plan of implementation within the context of the Triple billion targets. The Minister noted that some of the work for the implementation of the WHA 71 resolutions are already in the Ministries Health Sector Strategic Plans and therefore the workshop should focus on identifying gaps and propose solutions to address them.

Five working groups were formed to review the resolutions and decisions and develop an implementation plan with reference to the existing HSSPs.

During the workshop, Ministry of Health staff were also oriented on how the WHA works and the upcoming RC meeting. The orientation covered; the procedures, cultures, values, manners to speak, kind of papers and how to respond.

The workshop ended by remarks from the Deputy Principal Secretary Ministry of Health Zanzibar who proposed establishment of a special desk in Tanzania Mainland to coordinate future participation of the United Republic of Tanzania at the WHA. The Deputy Minister of Health Tanzania Mainland noted that most plans presented during plenary proposed development of policies, assessments and capacity building activities. He advised the teams to focus more on activities that are tangible, measurable and bring real change on the ground- where it matters the most.

WHO has committed to work on the "triple billion" targets that by 2023 aim to achieve: 1 billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage, 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies, 1 billion more people enjoying better health and wellbeing. Three keys will be crucial to achieve the triple-billion targets, a strong WHO and leadership team that's more efficient and effective in its business practices; political commitment from governments and partnership.