The government has intensified efforts to strengthen Tanzania’s disease surveillance and outbreak response systems by equipping laboratory professionals with advanced skills in disease diagnosis, sample management and epidemic preparedness.
The move is expected to improve the quality of laboratory services for residents of Iringa and neighbouring regions while enhancing the health sector’s ability to detect and respond to public health threats, including Ebola and Marburg virus diseases.
Opening a five-day training programme for disease surveillance laboratory personnel in Iringa on June 24, 2026, Iringa Regional Medical Officer, Dr Sylvia Mamkwe, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building a resilient healthcare system capable of responding effectively to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The training, hosted at the Primary Health Care Institute (PHCI) in Iringa Municipality, has brought together laboratory specialists from Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya and Ruvuma regions.
Dr Mamkwe said the programme is designed to strengthen participants’ competencies in the collection, storage, packaging and transportation of samples from suspected outbreak cases, ensuring compliance with both national and international safety standards.
“Strong laboratory systems are fundamental to effective disease surveillance and outbreak management. Accurate and timely diagnosis not only supports appropriate patient care but also enables authorities to make informed decisions during public health emergencies,” she said.
She noted that laboratory-based surveillance remains one of the most important tools in identifying disease trends, monitoring outbreaks and providing the evidence needed to guide public health interventions.
Participants are receiving both theoretical and practical training on the recognition of epidemic-prone diseases, infection prevention and control measures, and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling potentially infectious samples.
The programme also focuses on safe packaging and transportation procedures for laboratory specimens, a critical area in preventing accidental exposure and maintaining the integrity of samples throughout the testing process.
Health experts say strengthening laboratory capacity is essential as countries continue to invest in preparedness measures following lessons learned from recent global and regional disease outbreaks.
The training is expected to improve the readiness of health facilities across the Southern Highlands by enhancing the technical skills of laboratory personnel and reinforcing disease detection systems at regional and district levels.
Dr Mamkwe commended the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) for supporting the initiative through the Pandemic Fund, which aims to strengthen countries’ capacities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats.
She said sustained investment in laboratory infrastructure and human resource development remains critical to safeguarding public health and ensuring communities receive timely and reliable diagnostic services.
