The government has called on Environmental Health Officers across Tanzania to apply the skills acquired through specialised training to strengthen the monitoring of drinking water quality and safety, as part of efforts to reduce waterborne diseases and improve public health.
The call was made by the Ministry of Health at the close of a national training programme in Morogoro on Thursday, where Regional and Council Environmental Health Officers were trained to use the DelAgua Water Testing Kit, a modern technology that enables accurate testing of household drinking water.
Closing the training, the Head of the Ministry's Water, Food and Environmental Safety Section, Mr Anyitike Mwakitalima, said equipping officers with advanced technical skills is central to the government's strategy to ensure regular and reliable monitoring of water quality across the country.
He urged participants to put the knowledge and practical experience gained during the training into practice, saying the effectiveness of the programme would ultimately be measured by improved surveillance systems and safer drinking water in communities.
"The skills acquired during this training should be translated into action. By applying these modern testing techniques professionally, you will strengthen water quality monitoring, improve public health services and help protect communities from diseases associated with unsafe drinking water," Mr Mwakitalima said.
He noted that stronger technical capacity among environmental health officers would enable authorities to detect contamination early, respond promptly to emerging risks and prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases before they spread.
The Ministry's Environmental Health Coordinator, Mr Yusuph Seif Yusuph, stressed the importance of proper handling and maintenance of the DelAgua Water Testing Kits to preserve their accuracy and extend their operational lifespan.
He said well-maintained equipment would enhance the efficiency of water quality surveillance conducted by regional and local government authorities while generating reliable data to support evidence-based public health interventions.
"These testing kits are valuable public assets. Proper use and maintenance will ensure consistent, accurate results that support timely decision-making and safeguard the health of Tanzanians," he said.
The training brought together Environmental Health Officers from regional administrations and local government authorities nationwide to strengthen their capacity to use modern water-testing technology in routine public health surveillance.
The initiative forms part of the government's broader commitment to expanding access to safe drinking water and reinforcing disease prevention measures through stronger environmental health systems.
Health experts regard regular water quality monitoring as a critical component of disease prevention, as contaminated drinking water remains one of the leading causes of diarrhoeal and other waterborne illnesses, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.
