Tanzanian health officials strengthen ties with Western students

Health and social welfare officials from Tanzania will be visiting the SchulichSchool of Medicine & Dentistry to show how students from The University of Western Ontario are making a difference in their country. A public forum with the delegates and Western students involved in international development will be held Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in room M282 of the MedicalSciencesBuilding.

The Tanzanian delegation is touring Ontario as guests of Waterloo-based MEDA -Mennonite Economic Development Associates, which has distributed more than three million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent Malaria.

Western also has several health initiatives to help Tanzanians including MedOutreach which sends four medical students, two dental students and two nursing students to the African country every summer to provide health care. The 2008 team will be at the forum to meet the Tanzanian delegation which includes:

Dr. Deogratius Mtasiwa, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

Dr. Donan Mmbando, Director for Preventative Services, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and

Dr. Alex Mwita, Program Manager of the National Malaria Control Program.

There will be a short presentation from the visiting speakers, brief presentations by student-run organizations involved in Tanzania-based outreach programs and an opportunity for questions and discussion.