Tanzania has stepped up efforts to strengthen its preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats, with health authorities emphasizing that sustained regional cooperation remains critical in preventing the spread of infectious diseases across East Africa.
Speaking at a high-level meeting in Dar es Salaam on Thursday to review the status of the Ebola outbreak in the region, Chief Medical Officer Dr Grace Magembe said the country has continued to enhance its readiness through close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and development partners.
Her remarks come amid continued monitoring of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus reported in neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Although Tanzania has not recorded any Ebola case, Dr Magembe said the government has maintained a proactive approach, arguing that effective outbreak response begins long before the first infection is detected.
“Tanzania has been strengthening its preparedness since Ebola was declared a public health emergency. It is true that we have not recorded any case in the country so far, but preparedness does not start after a disease is detected. It starts much earlier, before any case emerges,” she said.
Dr Magembe noted that disease outbreaks transcend national boundaries and require collective action among countries to safeguard public health.
“Health security is a shared responsibility. No country can effectively address such threats in isolation. Continuous coordination and cooperation at regional and international levels are essential,” she said.
She explained that Tanzania has intensified surveillance systems, strengthened cross-border health monitoring and maintained regular technical engagements with neighbouring countries and international partners as part of its preparedness strategy.
Public health emergencies, she added, have far-reaching implications beyond the health sector, affecting economies, livelihoods and social development.
This reality, she said, highlights the need for continued investment in resilient health systems capable of preventing, detecting and responding rapidly to disease outbreaks.
According to Dr Magembe, the meeting provided an opportunity for health experts and stakeholders to review the latest developments in the outbreak, assess emerging risks and draw lessons from affected areas to reinforce preparedness measures.
The discussions also focused on strengthening response mechanisms and ensuring that countries in the region remain alert to potential cross-border transmission risks.
Dr Magembe commended development partners for their continued support in strengthening Tanzania’s health security architecture, saying their contributions have played a key role in enhancing the country’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
She said the partnership has enabled authorities to implement evidence-based interventions aimed at protecting communities and reducing the risk of disease transmission.
As the region remains vigilant against Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases, Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with regional and global partners to safeguard public health and strengthen collective preparedness against future outbreaks.
