The Ministry of Health, through its Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, the National Immunization Programme, and in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), has launched training for Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in Mwanza Region to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to health emergencies.
The training, which started on May 18, 2026, is aimed at improving the skills of health teams in detecting, investigating, and responding quickly to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
The goal is to ensure that health threats are identified early and controlled before they spread widely in communities.
According to health officials, the programme is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Tanzania’s preparedness and response systems at all levels of the health sector.
It brings together key institutions including the Ministry of Health, the Prime Minister’s Office – PMO-RALG, and the National Immunization Programme, working jointly to protect public health.
The training focuses on practical field skills, including how to investigate reported health incidents, collect important information, and take medical samples from patients correctly.
These procedures are essential for confirming diseases in laboratories and guiding quick government action to control outbreaks.
Officials noted that accurate data collection is a key part of emergency response. The training is therefore equipping participants with knowledge on how to gather reliable information from affected areas to support fast and informed decision-making.
A strong emphasis is also placed on vaccination, especially in preventing Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs).
Health experts are reminding participants that immunisation remains one of the most effective ways of protecting communities from serious diseases, reducing deaths, disabilities, and preventing outbreaks before they occur.
The programme also trains participants on proper handling and transportation of samples from patients. Correct sample collection helps ensure accurate diagnosis, which is critical in responding quickly and effectively to health emergencies.
In addition, the training provides an opportunity for health workers from different regions to share experiences and learn better ways of handling emergency situations.
This exchange of knowledge is expected to improve coordination and teamwork across regional and local health systems.
The initiative is part of Tanzania’s wider strategy to strengthen coordination from the national level down to regional authorities, councils, and community health systems.
By improving Rapid Response Teams, the government aims to ensure faster detection of outbreaks, stronger control measures, and better protection of citizens’ health.
Overall, the Mwanza training is expected to improve the country’s readiness to deal with health emergencies and strengthen efforts to protect communities from future disease outbreaks.
