Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health has formalized a landmark $3.1 billion health sector cooperation agreement with the United States, marking a major step toward strengthening the island’s healthcare system through targeted investments in critical areas.
During a meeting in Zanzibar City, Permanent Secretary Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji said the partnership would align international support with the archipelago’s own health priorities, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently to address pressing needs. The agreement comes as Zanzibar has already committed nearly 130 billion Tanzanian shillings to healthcare over the past five years, with plans to allocate an additional 1.016 trillion shillings in the next five years.
Dr. Miraji emphasized that the collaboration would focus on three key pillars: expanding the health workforce, modernizing laboratory services, and strengthening health information systems. He underscored the importance of integrating external assistance with local initiatives to prevent redundancy and maximize impact. “This partnership will help us build a health system that is responsive to our needs and capable of meeting future challenges,” he said.
Jessica Greene, Head of the Cooperation Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, led the American delegation and confirmed that the agreement would be guided by Zanzibar’s identified priorities rather than external agendas. “Our goal is to work hand-in-hand with Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health to ensure that every dollar invested translates into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery,” Greene stated. She added that systematic cooperation between both parties would be essential to achieving the partnership’s objectives.
The discussions follow broader efforts to operationalize the existing Tanzania-U.S. health cooperation framework at the local level. For Zanzibar, the partnership is expected to complement government spending by providing access to specialized expertise, advanced technology, and additional resources in areas critical to improving health outcomes. Both sides will now focus on identifying priority projects and establishing clear implementation mechanisms to bring the agreement to life.
The collaboration arrives at a time when Zanzibar is prioritizing investments in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, and digital health systems to enhance service delivery across the islands.
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