MUHAS–THPS Delegation Engages at 76th ECSA-HC Health Ministers’ Conference in Eswatini
A joint delegation from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) participated in the 76th East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) Health Ministers’ Conference, held from 3–5 February 2026 at Ezulwini in Eswatini.
The conference was convened under the theme “Enhancing Health Systems for Equity, Resilience and Sustainability” bringing together more than 400 delegates, including Ministers of Health, Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, youth leaders, development partners, and researchers from across the ECSA region and beyond.
The conference also featured several pre-conference events, including the inaugural ECSA-HC Regional Youth Summit, which highlighted youth leadership, innovation, and intergenerational accountability in building sustainable health systems; and the Health Financing Dialogue on Value for Money, Value for Health, attended by senior health officials from 17 Member States, with a keynote address by H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, emphasizing people-centered and sustainable health financing models.
The conference adopted resolutions that will guide regional action towards stronger, more equitable, and resilient health systems including commitments to:
- Promote sustainable and innovative health financing,
- Improve readiness for health emergencies and climate-related shocks,
- Enhance adolescent, youth, and mental health,
- Strengthen digital health governance and regional health data systems,
- Increase efforts against communicable, non-communicable, and neglected tropical diseases,
- Invest in health workforce leadership, skills, and retention,
- Encourage local and regional manufacturing for health security, and
- Build strong regional alliances and collaboration.
On the sidelines of the conference, the MUHAS–THPS delegation held productive discussions with Mr. Linton Mchunu, Senior Advisor to the CEO of the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director General of ECSA-HC. The engagements explored opportunities for strengthening ongoing collaboration and identifying future areas of partnership with AUDA-NEPAD and ECSA-HC.
THPS in collaboration with MUHAS remains committed to generating evidence-based research and fostering collaborative initiatives that strengthen resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems, enhance workforce capacity, and improve health outcomes across Tanzania and the ECSA region.
