On the 28th March, 2013 the WHO Country Office handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, vehicles and equipment to support major activities in the area of immunization as well as surveillance at the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). 
The items handed over included: 7 vehicles, 129 fridges, and temperature monitoring tools, 3 desk top computers, 3 UPS, 4 laptops, 1 photocopy machine, 1 printer and 1 scanner. The value of all these items is USD 1,685,369.45 equivalent to Tsh. 2,733,669,248.

The occasion was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Regina Kikuli; the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Donan Mmbando; Directors of Units and Senior Technical Officers of the Ministry; Members of the ICC; Development Partners (UNICEF, USAID, CDC), WHO Country Office staff and members of the Media. 

In his handing over speech, the WHO Representative, Dr. Rufaro Chatora stated that the vehicles will support the logistical, surveillance, and supportive supervision activities of immunization at the central and regional levels. He added that the refrigerators will address the challenge of positive storage at district level and specifically in the Rotavirus Surveillance Sentinel Sites which are at Bugando Referral Hospital, Dodoma Regional Hospital, Tanga Regional Hospital and the National Laboratory.

With regards to the temperature monitoring tools: 4,500 fridges tags and 9,500 freeze tags handed over, Dr. Chatora explained that they will be used to strengthen the cold chain during distribution of vaccines and consequently ensure delivery and use of vaccines of good quality. He further elaborated that the office equipment handed over to the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority aim to strengthen the infrastructural capacity for surveillance of diagnostics in the country.

In her acceptance speech, the Permanent Secretary for Health and Social Welfare said that the vehicles and equipment handed over will complement the country’s efforts in realising the Millennium Development Goal number 4.  She further expressed appreciation to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the timely support to the Tanzanian Government and assured that the vehicles and equipment will be maintained and used for the intended purposes.