Experts call for mandatory health screenings to achieve vision 2050

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Health screening illustration

By Guardian Reporter , The Guardian

HEALTH experts and human rights activists are advocating for the integration of mandatory health screenings into national policy as a vital step toward achieving National Development Vision 2050 goals.

During a multi-service health clinic held yesterday at Kiboroloni market in Moshi municipality, stakeholders argued that prioritising the early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is essential to protecting citizens who currently lack the awareness to seek medical attention independently.

Aginatha Rutazaa, the executive director of the Tusonge Community Development Organisation and a prominent health expert, emphasised that early intervention is a matter of national productivity. 

She noted that many Tanzanians seek professional help only when their conditions have reached advanced stages, which creates an unsustainable burden on the healthcare system and leads to hospital congestion. By shifting the focus toward proactive screening, Rutazaa argued that the nation can alleviate this strain while boosting economic output through a healthier, more capable workforce.

The outreach initiative, which provided medical testing alongside legal and mental health counseling, highlighted the silent nature of NCDs. 

Supporting this view, Winfrida Kavishe, a nutrition intervention specialist from Majengo Health Centre, pointed out that diseases such as hypertension and diabetes often develop without symptoms. 

She warned that delayed treatment is not only more costly but significantly less effective, whereas early detection allows for timely behavioural changes that prolong life. 

Kavishe joined the call for a structured system to encourage or enforce regular testing to protect those unaware of the "silent" dangers they face.

Data from the event underscored the immediate impact of such localised interventions. Chriss Monyo, the Project Officer for the "Your Rights, Your Future" initiative, reported that the clinic reached 182 people, including 145 women and 37 men. 

The screenings revealed significant health needs within the community: out of 162 people tested for blood pressure, 11 were diagnosed with hypertension, and 12 out of 151 people showed elevated blood sugar levels. Furthermore, out of 20 women screened for cervical cancer, three were diagnosed with complications and immediately referred for specialised medical treatment.