Advancing Humanitarian Health in Tanzania Through Implementation Science
Attendees and organizers pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the symposium.
Tanzania faces significant humanitarian health challenges, particularly in crisis-affected regions where access to quality healthcare is limited. Addressing these challenges requires evidence-based interventions, strong stakeholder collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives. These themes took center stage at the second national symposium, "Implementation Science in Humanitarian Context: Translating Global Policies into Local Context."
Held in March 2025 under the EMPOWER-TZ program, funded by the Fogarty International Center at National Institutes of Health (NIH), the symposium was organized by the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, and the Tanzanian Red Cross Society. It brought together local stakeholders—including government leaders, academic scholars, implementing partners, and trainees—for in-depth discussions on how implementation science can bridge the gap between global health policies and local humanitarian response efforts.
More specifically, the symposium explored key themes, including the broader humanitarian context in Tanzania, access to critical health services in crisis settings, and the challenges of referral health care in humanitarian environments. A panel discussion featuring leading experts provided critical reflections on the persistent barriers to implementing effective interventions in these settings.
The EMPOWER-TZ team remains committed to working alongside local partners to translate these discussions into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery in Tanzania.