By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzania’s Medical Stores Department (MSD) has launched an occupational health and safety training program for its staff, aimed at strengthening workplace emergency response capacities in compliance with national safety regulations.
The training, currently underway in Morogoro, brings together first aiders from MSD’s headquarters and regional zones.
It is part of MSD’s efforts to meet the requirements of Tanzania’s Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 5 of 2003, which obliges employers to train designated employees in first aid to ensure prompt medical response during workplace incidents.
“The training is essential for protecting the health of our employees in case of emergencies at work,” MSD Administration Manager Dominic Mang'enyi said during the program's opening session.
He urged participants to take the sessions seriously, emphasizing that the acquired skills could help save lives in critical situations.
The course is being conducted by experts from the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), Tanzania’s national workplace safety regulator.
OSHA trainer and building inspector Engineer Gasper Kisweka commended MSD for its commitment to upholding safety standards and encouraged other institutions to follow suit.
“Compliance with occupational health and safety regulations is not only a legal obligation but a vital investment in employee well-being,” Kisweka said.
MSD, which manages the procurement, storage and distribution of medical supplies across Tanzania, said the initiative reflects its ongoing efforts to foster a safer work environment and align with international workplace safety practices.