Today marks the official opening of the SRS Planning and Experience-Sharing Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a multi-country gathering that brings together leading experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the region with a focus on strengthening Sample Registration System (SRS) strategies to improve mortality data collection and surveillance systems globally.

Held under the theme “Going Far Together”, the 2025 SRS Planning Conference is jointly convened by the Gates Foundation, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Tanzania’s Ministry of Health (MoH), the Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), Vital Strategies, and Swiss TPH. The meeting runs from Monday, June 2 to Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

This high-level event provides a platform for countries to collaborate on developing integrated, sustainable, and context-appropriate SRS designs informed by situational assessments, while also fostering regional partnerships and strategies for long-term resource mobilization.

Key objectives of the workshop include: providing dedicated time to review situational assessment findings and draft SRS designs; creating a peer learning community where countries can share lessons and innovations; developing strategies for mobilizing resources for long-term implementation; and outlining post-conference activities needed to finalize action plans and strengthen planning efforts.

Dar Regional Commissioner Chalamila Offers Opening Remarks
Delivering opening remarks on behalf of Hon. Jenister Mhagama, Minister of Health, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert John Chalamila warmly welcomed delegates, reaffirming Tanzania’s commitment to building inclusive, reliable mortality and civil registration systems. He emphasized that “every life counts” and highlighted the transformative power of high-quality data to inform equitable health policies, improve governance, and ultimately save lives.

Ifakara Director Welcomes Participants
Also offering welcoming remarks was the Director of the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), who expressed enthusiasm for the collaborative spirit of the conference and underscored the importance of partnerships in strengthening Sample Registration Systems.

Key Presentations Set the Stage
The event featured a presentation by Samantha Dolan from the Gates Foundation, who provided an overview of the meeting’s objectives and significance. Dr. Amina S. Msengwa, Statistician General from the National Bureau of Statistics, also addressed the gathering, expressing optimism about the meeting’s potential to foster meaningful collaborations that will enhance mortality data systems and strengthen national efforts.