Tanzania will not acquire any Covid-19 vaccines, at least for the moment, the country’s health minister Dr. Dorothy Gwajima (pictured, left) said in a press conference on Feb. 1.

“For now, Tanzania has no plans of buying any of the vaccines used in other countries. We will only do so if we are very sure they are clinically tested and without any dangers,” she said.

The official called on her fellow citizens to improve their body hygiene and rather use traditional medicines, mainly plant-based ones. “We Tanzanians should be a good model for our neighbors regarding the improvement of body hygiene and the use of local plants to treat not only Covid-19 but also asthma, flu and other diseases,” the minister said.

“These traditional remedies have been used for centuries in our societies and they have helped many households, including myself and my family,” Dr. Dorothy Gwajima reassured. The minister also revealed that some herbal remedies made in Tanzania have already been approved by the competent authorities of the country.

This statement comes a week after President John Magufuli warned against the use of covid-19 vaccines. The leader made no secret of his aversion to all restrictive measures such as the containment imposed in other countries to curb the spread of the virus.

According to official data, Tanzania only recorded 509 cases and 21 deaths, since the outbreak.

Borgia Kobri