The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated medical equipment worth TSh112 million to support the Government of Tanzania’s efforts in strengthening emergency response and disease outbreak preparedness in Kagera Region.
The equipment, which targets Biharamulo and Muleba districts, was handed over through the Ministry of Health as part of WHO’s continued collaboration with the government in responding to recurring outbreaks, including the deadly Marburg virus that recently emerged in the region.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grace Magembe, the Acting Director of Emergency and Disaster Response at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Erasto Sylvanus, said the equipment will enhance the region’s capacity to detect, manage and contain health emergencies.
“This support includes modern hospital beds, industrial laundry machines, medicine trolleys, water storage containers, sanitation tools, and diagnostic equipment. These are critical in improving service delivery during outbreaks and ensuring facilities are well-prepared,” said Dr. Sylvanus during the handover event held on July 15, 2025.
He urged health workers and administrators to ensure proper use and maintenance of the donated items, highlighting that the lessons learned from previous outbreaks particularly the Marburg virus underline the importance of readiness, community engagement, and early disease reporting.
“This outbreak has taught us valuable lessons, including the importance of timely community alerts, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, and building sustainable health system resilience,” he said.
Dr. Sylvanus further appealed to local government authorities across Kagera to allocate dedicated budgets for emergency response, stressing that the region now has first-hand experience in handling epidemic threats.
Speaking at the same event, WHO Country Representative Dr. Galberth Fadjo commended the Tanzanian government’s swift and coordinated response to Marburg outbreaks in Bukoba in 2023 and in Biharamulo earlier this year.
“Tanzania acted quickly and efficiently to contain the Marburg virus without disrupting other social services. This is an exemplary model of outbreak response that other countries can learn from,” said Dr. Fadjo.
He emphasized WHO’s commitment to continuing its support in Tanzania and urged authorities to use the equipment not only for emergency response but also to build local capacity through technical training and health education.
“The success we’ve seen in Kagera shows the value of preparedness, and we’ll keep supporting efforts to ensure communities are protected from current and future health threats,” he added.
Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr. Steven Ndaki, thanked WHO and the Ministry of Health for the timely intervention, describing the donation as a lifeline that will help save many lives.
“With Kagera sharing borders with several countries, we remain highly exposed to cross-border disease transmission. This donation is a major boost to our preparedness and health infrastructure,” said Ndaki.
He called on all healthcare workers in the region to handle the equipment with care and use it to its full potential in safeguarding public health.
The donation marks yet another milestone in WHO’s broader support to Tanzania’s health sector, reaffirming its role as a key partner in building resilient systems to manage and contain epidemics.