The government has stepped up efforts to strengthen infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities by investing in locally trained specialists, a move aimed at improving service delivery and safeguarding public health.
Implemented in partnership with CIHEB Tanzania under the Global Health Security project, the initiative focuses on building a sustainable network of national trainers capable of supporting hospitals without relying heavily on external expertise.
Speaking on April 27, 2026, in Morogoro, the National Head of Infection Prevention and Control, Dr Joseph Hokoro, said the programme is already strengthening capacity in regional and district referral hospitals.
He noted that the development of in-country trainers is critical in ensuring long-term resilience of the health system, particularly in responding to disease outbreaks and maintaining high standards of care.
The Morogoro workshop brought together health experts to develop a national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) catalogue, validate data analysis, and incorporate new indicators into the DHIS2 platform, a key tool in tracking health data across the country.
Dr Hokoro said the investment in human resources aligns with the government’s broader commitment under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to improve healthcare quality and ensure reliable services for citizens.
For his part, the Global Health Security Project Director at CIHEB Tanzania, Dr Edgar Lusaya, said the programme is expanding its reach across the country through targeted technical training.
In Zanzibar, 31 health professionals are undergoing intermediate and advanced training to form a pool of trainers who will support healthcare facilities across the islands.
Similarly, in Lindi Region, 38 healthcare workers are receiving training on infection prevention using digital tools that support hygiene management and monitoring.
Dr Lusaya said the initiative is already yielding results, with improvements seen in national health assessments, increased use of digital reporting systems such as AfyaSS and DHIS2, and the development of new national guidelines for environmental health monitoring.
The programme reflects a broader shift towards building a self-reliant health system, where local expertise plays a central role in preventing infections, improving patient safety, and strengthening Tanzania’s preparedness against public health threats.
