Infection prevention and control has been identified as a key pillar in improving the quality of health services in the country, as it plays a major role in reducing the spread of infections in hospitals and other health facilities.
This was said on April 14, 2026 in Morogoro Region by a Ministry of Health coordinator, Dr. Joseph Okororo, during a working session focused on analysing infection prevention and control data and strengthening reporting systems through the District Health Information System (DHIS2).
Dr. Okororo said the government continues to prioritize infection prevention and control as part of broader efforts to strengthen the national health system and ensure citizens receive safe and quality health services.
He said the implementation of infection prevention and control measures focuses on three key areas, all aimed at improving service delivery and protecting patients as well as health workers.
The first area, he said, is controlling all communicable diseases in hospitals and health facilities across the country, noting that this is essential in building a strong health system that can respond effectively to health challenges.
“The control of communicable diseases in all health facilities is a key step in strengthening our health system so that it remains strong and able to respond to different challenges,” said Dr. Okororo.
Dr. Okororo further noted that under the Sixth Phase Government, efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases have been strengthened to improve health service delivery and ensure better protection for citizens.
He also emphasized the government’s continued efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, warning that the spread of resistant germs poses a serious risk to effective treatment.
He said measures are being taken to ensure that antimicrobial resistance is contained, in order to protect the effectiveness of available medicines and safeguard public health.
“Government continues to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance to ensure that treatment options remain effective and communities are protected from further health risks,” he said.
Dr. Okororo further stressed the importance of strengthening preparedness and response systems for disease outbreaks, saying this should be supported by strong surveillance systems and quick response mechanisms.
He noted that early detection, timely reporting, and rapid response remain crucial in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in both communities and health facilities.
Health stakeholders who attended the meeting agreed that improved use of data through DHIS2 will help improve decision-making, strengthen accountability, and enhance infection prevention and control practices in the health sector.
The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safe, quality, and reliable health services through continuous investment in infection prevention systems, capacity building, and data-driven planning.
