Tanzania Fires Health Official Amid Criticism Over Virus
Tanzanian Leader Fires Health Official Amid Criticism Over Virus
(Bloomberg) --
Tanzanian President John Magufuli sacked the nation’s deputy health minister, as he rejected criticism that his government is mishandling its response to the coronavirus by insisting that faith, not fear, will defeat the pandemic.
Faustine Ndugulile, a trained medical doctor, became the fifth high-ranking public health official in the East African nation to be removed from his position over the past month. No reason was given for his dismissal. He has recently contradicted government advice, such as warning against the use of steam therapy to prevent or cure the virus -- a measure that had been promoted by Magufuli.
The president said Sunday that home remedies like steam therapy and ginger-lemon tea had cured one of his own children, who self-isolated after becoming infected with the virus. He told worshipers at a prayer gathering that Tanzania has recorded a sharp drop in hospitalization rates, including in the country’s largest city, Dar Es Salaam.
“The number of patients has significantly declined,” he said at the gathering in his home village in the northwest of the country. “God has answered our prayers.”
Magufuli plans to order the reopening of universities and the resumption of sports activities next week if the trend continues. Earlier this month he questioned the reliability of test results from the national health laboratory and ordered an investigation, saying the outbreak in the country isn’t as bad as the results suggest. The government hasn’t released an update on coronavirus cases since April 29. The World Health Organization has reported 509 infections and 21 deaths in the East African nation.
The U.S. last week warned that the coronavirus was spreading rapidly in Tanzania. Neighboring Zambia and Kenya have partially closed their borders with the country.
Magufuli insisted on Sunday that his country’s borders would remain open, despite growing pressure both at home and abroad to restrict movement. The president said that none of the worshipers in church, including himself and the First Lady, were wearing masks and said the outbreak would be defeated through faith in God, “not fear.”
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