Laboratory professionals from Tabora, Shinyanga and Mara regions are undergoing intensive training to strengthen their capacity in handling and managing samples of highly infectious diseases, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance outbreak detection and response systems in the country.
The training, which entered its second day on April 14, 2026 in Tabora Region, focuses on equipping health workers with standard procedures for the safe collection, packaging, identification and transportation of high-risk disease samples, including those linked to Ebola, Marburg and Mpox.
Coordinating the exercise, Mr Joachim Chacha said the initiative was prompted by identified gaps in technical knowledge among some laboratory personnel, particularly in the handling and transportation of infectious samples.
He noted that failure to follow proper procedures not only puts health workers at risk but can also delay laboratory results, undermining timely interventions during outbreaks.
A laboratory expert from the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Ms Vumilia Mwalongo, underscored the need to strengthen capacity at primary healthcare facilities, where the majority of patients first seek treatment.
She said between 65 and 80 percent of Tanzanians access healthcare services at the primary level, making it essential to equip frontline health workers with the skills required to manage infectious samples safely and efficiently.
The training targets 41 health professionals, aiming to enhance their ability to collect accurate samples and generate reliable disease data to support surveillance and response efforts.
Upon completion, the trainees are expected to cascade the knowledge to their peers at health facilities, serving as champions of best practices in disease surveillance and sample management.
Mr Chacha said the programme is part of a broader, ongoing national initiative that has progressively moved from national to regional and district levels, and is now reaching primary healthcare settings.
He added that early outcomes are already evident, with trained personnel demonstrating improved adherence to protocols in sample collection, proper labeling and timely submission—marking a notable improvement from previous practices.
Ms Lucy Biseko, a laboratory expert from Shinyanga Municipal Hospital, said the training will significantly improve her performance and efficiency in laboratory services.
So far, experts from 30 out of 184 councils have been trained in disease surveillance, a development expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to effectively detect and contain outbreaks.
