Dodoma: The government has continued to strengthen the use of genetic technology in the country to improve health services, strengthen the provision of justice and stimulate scientific development for the benefit of the nation.
This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Florence Samizi, when she represented the Minister of Health at the opening of a scientific conference on genetic technology held in Dodoma, bringing together approximately 400 experts from various sectors.
Dr. Samizi said genetic technology is an important pillar in the provision of medical services with nationally and internationally accepted quality, explaining that it has made a significant contribution to organ transplant services such as kidneys and bone marrow, as well as the diagnosis of diseases and modern treatments including gene therapy and vaccine production.
He said the technology has continued to support the criminal justice sector by facilitating the availability of scientific evidence in the investigation of various crimes, a situation that contributes to strengthening good governance and the provision of justice to perpetrators.
He said the Government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has made significant investments in strengthening infrastructure, equipment and human resources at the Government Chemist’s Laboratory Authority to ensure that the technology is used effectively.
He noted that the Government is continuing with the construction of a Human Genetics Office and Laboratory building worth 16.73 billion shillings, as well as the purchase of five modern genetic testing machines worth 3.5 billion shillings.
Dr. Samizi said that despite these achievements, there are still challenges including the low use of the technology in the diagnosis of hereditary and rare diseases, as well as the poor use of personalized medicine and gene therapy.
He called on experts to use the meeting to discuss in detail how to strengthen the use of genetic technology in the country, along with raising proposals that will help the Government improve the sector in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
He also stressed the importance of experts complying with the Human Genetic Resources Control Act, warning against acts of taking genetic samples and exporting them abroad without following procedures, a situation that could jeopardize the security of Tanzanians’ information.
