Tanzanian officials urge investment in local technological innovations

Tanzanian lawmakers and science officials are calling for increased investment in local research and innovation to solve domestic challenges and boost national revenue. During the National Education, Skills, and Innovation Week in Tanga, Husna Sekiboko, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture, and Sports, highlighted the potential of homegrown technologies.

One notable innovation is an ultrasound system developed by experts at the University of Dodoma (UDOM). Designed to provide affordable maternal and fetal health monitoring starting from 12 weeks of pregnancy, the device aims to offer a lower-cost alternative to imported medical equipment. Sekiboko emphasized that such technologies should be distributed to health centers nationwide before being exported to neighboring African countries.

Amos Nungu, Executive Director of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), noted that local innovations are increasingly addressing socio-economic issues. Examples include ear-mounted devices for monitoring cattle health, the use of cashew nut shells to create skin moisturizers at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, and AI-driven applications for identifying fish diseases in aquaculture.