Tanzania Sets Strategies for Regions Facing Cholera Threat
The Tanzanian government is scaling up cholera preparedness measures, particularly during the ongoing wet season, as part of a broader effort to strengthen outbreak response systems and reduce risks in vulnerable regions.
Speaking during a laboratory specialists’ training seminar in Morogoro, the Representative of the Director General of National Laboratories, Seif Abdul, outlined regions identified as high-risk for cholera outbreaks. These include Songwe, Rukwa, Mbeya, Iringa, Morogoro, Singida, Dodoma, Manyara, Tanga, Arusha, Mara, Kigoma, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam and Ruvuma.
He said the government is focusing on strengthening both preparedness and response capacity at the regional and district levels, with an emphasis on rapid detection and coordinated action at the community level. The aim is to ensure that when outbreaks occur, health systems are already equipped to respond effectively and without delay.
The training targets laboratory specialists and frontline health workers drawn from districts within the identified high-risk regions. According to Abdul, the objective is to build technical capacity so that experts are better prepared to manage cholera cases, from early detection through to containment.
Training facilitator Emmanuel Magembe said participants are being equipped with knowledge of international cholera surveillance guidelines, alongside practical training in using a mobile application designed to support outbreak reporting and response. The programme also focuses on correct procedures for sample collection, handling and transportation to national laboratories for testing and confirmation.
A key component of the training is strengthening laboratory systems to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis. Participants are also expected to improve their ability to use rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and apply standardised outbreak response tools, including the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) framework.
The training also serves as a platform for peer learning, allowing health professionals to share experiences from previous cholera preparedness and response efforts across regions. This aims to improve consistency and effectiveness in how outbreaks are managed nationally.
According to KOFI Project Coordinator Olimpia Machange, the five-year programme supporting the initiative initially focused on regional-level capacity building but has now been extended to district-level implementation. The shift is intended to decentralise services and bring outbreak preparedness closer to communities.
Overall, the government’s approach reflects a continued push to strengthen health system readiness through training, surveillance, digital tools, and laboratory capacity. Authorities have reiterated that sustained collaboration with partners will remain central to improving preparedness and ensuring faster, more coordinated responses to cholera outbreaks, particularly in high-risk regions during the rainy season.
(Source: Daily News)