title: Health challenges in Tanzania: context for educating health professionals.
abstract: In this commentary we introduce the population age and gender distributions, the birth rate, and life expectancy in Tanzania's largely agricultural society and highlight the vulnerable status of mothers and children. We present underlying causes of poor health, the leading causes of Disability-Adjusted Life Years and review threats from exposure to disease, toxic substances, and injuries that require protection of populations and control efforts. We summarize health challenges posed by malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, and by new threats that may change the picture of disease and require adjustments in how training institutions prepare the health workforce.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwesigabo
authors.forename: Mughwira A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mwangu
authors.forename: Deodatus C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kakoko
authors.forename: Japhet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Killewo
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology