The Government of Tanzania has stepped up preparedness measures to respond to Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks, following increased risk alerts from neighbouring countries.
Through the Ministry of Health, the government is reinforcing emergency response systems to ensure the country remains fully prepared to detect, prevent, and respond effectively to any public health emergency.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director of the Emergency and Disaster Management Unit, Dr. Erasto Sylvanus, said the government has continued to strengthen national systems for managing health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
He made the remarks during a training programme for Emergency Medical Teams (EMT), which brought together health professionals from both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Dr. Sylvanus said Tanzania now has a well-structured system that allows early identification of potential outbreaks, timely response, and coordinated management of health emergencies.
He noted that the country already has a dedicated national response team that is fully trained and ready to be deployed whenever needed, both within and outside Tanzania.
“In any situation involving a health emergency or outbreak, we already have a standing response team that is well trained and ready for deployment. This team includes experts from both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and is capable of responding anywhere it is needed,” said Dr. Sylvanus.
He urged the trained health professionals to apply the knowledge and skills gained to strengthen emergency preparedness within their own health facilities by forming and improving institutional response teams.
Dr. Sylvanus also emphasized the need to adhere to international standards so that the team remains regionally and globally recognized, enabling it to operate effectively in cross-border health emergencies.
He further called for stronger collaboration among health workers regardless of institutions, professionalism, patriotism, and readiness to respond swiftly whenever emergencies arise.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong database of emergency responders and conducting regular simulation exercises to keep skills active and updated.
A representative from the World Health Organization (World Health Organization), Dr. Janeth Masuma, said Tanzania is well positioned to respond to Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases due to the existence of trained and well-coordinated emergency medical teams.
She said the teams will play a frontline role in responding to outbreaks, ensuring quick intervention and helping to save lives by reducing preventable deaths.
Dr. Masuma further noted that Tanzania is among the leading countries in Africa, being the 27th to establish a national Emergency Medical Team, a major step in strengthening health security systems.
She added that the team is now fully structured, competent, and ready to respond to emergencies whenever required.
The Training Coordinator from the Ministry of Health Emergency and Disaster Management Unit, Dr. Erick Richard, said the training programme started last year under guidelines provided by the World Health Organization to strengthen global emergency preparedness.
He explained that the trained team is not limited to national deployment only, but can also be mobilized to support international responses when necessary.
Dr. Richard added that apart from responding to outbreaks, the team will also support health facilities in strengthening their internal emergency response systems.
Chairperson of the training programme, Dr. Hussein Manji, said the national Emergency Medical Team brings together health professionals from public and private health facilities, including doctors, nurses, and other specialists.
He said the team is designed to ensure rapid, coordinated, and effective response during outbreaks and emergencies, improving the country’s ability to manage health crises.
Dr. Manji commended the Ministry of Health for working closely with the World Health Organization (World Health Organization) in organizing the training, saying it has strengthened Tanzania’s readiness to protect citizens and respond effectively to any health emergency at any time.
