The government is finalising new laboratory training modules aimed at aligning Tanzania’s laboratory practices with international standards and strengthening the country’s preparedness to respond to disease outbreaks.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) under the Pandemic Fund project, which focuses on building the capacity of laboratory professionals across all levels.
Speaking during a meeting of laboratory experts held in Dar es Salaam on March 9, 2026, the One Health Desk Coordinator from the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Valentine Sanga, said the project seeks to ensure laboratory professionals are well equipped to detect and respond to emerging health threats.
She said one of the key objectives of the Pandemic Fund project is to strengthen the capacity of laboratory experts so they can effectively respond to disease outbreaks such as Marburg virus disease and Ebola.
According to Ms Sanga, improving the training modules will help bring Tanzania’s laboratory systems in line with international standards while enhancing the country’s ability to respond quickly to public health emergencies.
Pandemic Fund Laboratory Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Ms Ritha Massawe, said the project will also help improve biosafety and biosecurity practices related to handling dangerous pathogens across different sectors in the country.
She explained that once the review and improvement of the modules are completed, the next step will be to roll out nationwide training for laboratory professionals using integrated learning approaches, including distance learning.
“The improved modules will guide laboratory professionals on the safe handling of hazardous pathogens and strengthen national systems for disease detection and response,” she said.
One of the participants, laboratory specialist Ms Ashura Faraji from the Zanzibar Public Health Laboratory (ZPHL), said the improvements have come at the right time, noting that some professionals still lack comprehensive knowledge on biosafety and biosecurity procedures.
She said the initiative offers a valuable opportunity for laboratory experts to strengthen their skills and perform their duties with greater professionalism and knowledge.
The Pandemic Fund project is a three-year programme overseen by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and is expected to run until December 2027.
