The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Tanzania

The Duchess of Edinburgh is visiting Dar es Salaam, and will visit Zanzibar and Arusha, this week to see the work of international organisations Sightsavers, Uniting to Combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and the Alliance of Bioversity and International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). During the visit, The Duchess will meet the President of Tanzania, Her Excellency the Hon. Samia Suluhu Hassan, and the President of Zanzibar, His Excellency Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, as well as healthcare providers, and members of local communities.

Tuesday 17th September

On the first day of her visit, The Duchess visited Magomeni Health Centre in Dar es Salaam; a primary health facility offering essential sexual health and family planning services. 

The Duchess later visited the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit, meeting investigators, prosecutors and social welfare practitioners to hear about efforts to tackle child abuse in Tanzania and the care given to victims. 

During a reception on Tuesday evening celebrating health collaboration, The Duchess delivered a speech recognising progress made in Tanzania to rid the country of trachoma - the infectious and blinding eye disease - and the work still to be done. Her Royal Highness set the ambition for the elimination of trachoma across the Commonwealth by 2030 and delivered a short message from His Majesty The King commending the ongoing efforts:

As Patron of one of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness’s members, ‘Sightsavers’, and knowing that The Duchess of Edinburgh is with you today in Tanzania, I particularly wanted you all to know how full of admiration and gratitude I am for your passion and devoted efforts in treating and preventing neglected tropical diseases, especially trachoma. Your constant dedication and hard work will lead us to a world where inclusion and equality can be realised across our Commonwealth.

I send you all my warmest good wishes and heartfelt encouragement for the much-needed success of your gathering.

Charles R 

Wednesday 18th September

On Wednesday, The Duchess visited a trachoma outreach camp at Mlandizi Health Centre in Kibaha District. 

During the visit, Her Royal Highness saw trachoma screenings and surgery, as well as met health workers, people supported by the project, and Ministry of Health and Sightsavers representatives.

Trachoma is an ancient disease which turns eyelashes inwards so that they scrape the eye permanently blind. People have described the pain similar to having thorns, grit or sand constantly in their eyes. If left untreated, repeated infections can lead to permanent blindness.

Sightsavers has run trachoma projects in Tanzania since 2012 and supported 47,683 surgeries for advanced trachoma (trachoma trichiasis).

Thursday 19th September

In Zanzibar, The Duchess observed the efforts of the Ministry of Health, Uniting to Combat NTDs, and Unlimit Health, to combat lymphatic filariasis (LF).

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), also known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. It is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is caused by parasitic worms and damages the human lymph system.

The disease can cause severe and extensive swelling of the lower limbs, which can be accompanied by painful episodes of fever. People with lymphedema are prone to bacterial infections that can lead to a mobility-limiting condition where the skin thickens and hardens.

During her time in Zanzibar, The Duchess attended a celebration event to mark the 12th billionth donation by the pharmaceutical organisation GSK of Albendazole treatment for lymphatic filariasis. 

Her Royal Highness gave a speech to attendees and congratulated Zanzibar on its trachoma efforts, before meeting local school children.

Later, Her Royal Highness spoke to Mzowele Khamis Juma, who was diagnosed with LF in 2022 after developing lymphodema in her left leg. Since her diagnosis she has received treatment, which she says helps reduce the swelling of her leg.

Friday 20th September

At the end of the week, in Arusha, The Duchess will learn about collaborative work between the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and visit female Tanzanian farmers, to see how women are being empowered through science and entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture and food systems.

Her Royal Highness will also celebrate the launch of the UK’s new horticulture export accelerator programme, developed in collaboration with the Tanzania Horticultural Association, which will help Tanzanian businesses working with the UK’s developing countries trading scheme.