THE government has challenged researchers in the country to come up with effective ways to deal with various challenges, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to reduce treatment burden.

Prof Carolyne Nombo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday when officially opening the 12th Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Scientific Conference that brought together over 400 foreign and local researchers.

She said other pressing issues are to improve ethics at the workplace and the use of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) in the health sector.

She said that researchers should provide solutions and best approaches to resolve problems, adding that without taking measures, diseases will have a direct negative impact on families as well as the government.

Prof Nombo said that this year's conference theme ‘Science as a story of Life: The Power of Research, Innovation and Collaboration in Improving Resilient Health System’ was purposely chosen to honour contribution made by MUHAS former Chancellor, the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

“We want researchers to come up with recommendations on how to deal with the above three challenges. Recommendations from the conference must be submitted to the committee tasked to prepare development vision 2050," she said.

"The government is proud of the remarkable success achieved by MUHAS since its inception two years after independence.” she added.

According to her, MUHAS research has contributed a lot to positive changes in health guidelines, treatment and policy formulation.

She called on policy makers to collaborate with researchers to work on disseminated research findings to solve problems facing the country.

Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, MUHAS Governing Council Chairman, said that the board will ensure domestic sources of revenues are improved to make a bigger contribution to research.

MUHAS Vice Chancellor Prof Appolinary Kamuhabwa said that the institution has improved research environment and therefore attracts more organisations seeking collaboration.

"The conference must remind us to assess our researchers' contribution towards improving treatment, policy formulation and consultancies,” he said.

"We have every reason to honour the contribution made by former President the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi on best ways to prevent NCDs," he said.

Prof Kamuhabwa said that MUHAS implements a total of 150 research projects, a number that has never been recorded in the institution’s history.

He said that plans are underway to establish a new cardiovascular hospital at MUHAS Mloganzila, adding that oral health will follow later.

"Our future plan is to have MUHAS academic city. We currently build infrastructure and train experts," he said.