The government has stepped up efforts to strengthen Tanzania’s health system by rolling out a nationwide training programme aimed at improving disease surveillance and ensuring accurate processing of laboratory data.
The training, launched on April 13, 2026 in Tabora Region, brings together health professionals from across the country as part of a broader strategy to enhance medical data systems and response to disease outbreaks.
Acting Registrar of the Laboratory Professionals Council, Ms Zubeda Salumu, said the programme builds on a similar initiative conducted in 2025 at regional hospitals, where laboratory experts were equipped with skills in disease surveillance.
The programme also led to the appointment of laboratory-based surveillance coordinators who are currently submitting weekly reports, contributing to improved monitoring of diseases.
Following the success of the earlier phase, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) and the World Health Organization through the Pandemic Fund to expand the training to primary healthcare facilities.
She said the move is intended to reach more health workers, particularly at the grassroots level where most health cases are first detected.
“The main objective is to equip health workers with the knowledge and skills required for effective disease surveillance and accurate laboratory data processing, as primary healthcare is the foundation of the health system,” she said.
Ms Salumu stressed that laboratories play a central role in generating health data, making it crucial for professionals to have the capacity to analyse and use the information to improve service delivery and inform timely decision-making.
Acting Registrar of the Private Health Laboratories Board (PHLB), Mr Emmanuel Mjema, urged participants to fully utilise the training to enhance their day-to-day performance and uphold professional standards in their work.
He said strengthening the skills of laboratory experts is key to ensuring reliable health data, which is essential in guiding national responses to diseases and public health threats.
Participants who complete the training will be awarded Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, with further guidance on certification procedures to be provided by organisers.
Meanwhile, the training coordinator from the Ministry of Health called on participants to ensure they renew their professional licences on time to avoid disruptions in service delivery at their respective health facilities.
